Storage

Data Centre

Plexistor’s software-defined memory platform reaches the market

January 26, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Plexistor’s software-defined memory platform reaches the market
Plexistor’s Software Defined Memory architecture converges memory and storage technologies to drastically reduce latency and significantly improve performance of data-intensive applications.

Managed Services

How to break away from the break-fix model that’s killing your MSP business

January 18, 2016 Guest Poster Comments Off on How to break away from the break-fix model that’s killing your MSP business
Some new year’s advice from Alex Hoff of Auvik Networks on how to get rid of old habits that may be harmful to your MSP business.

Cloud

EMC Canada’s channel chief looks ahead to 2016

December 10, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on EMC Canada’s channel chief looks ahead to 2016
With major changes on the horizon, Michael Kerr stresses that EMC partners need to be able to articulate the business outcomes of the increasing complex technology available to them.

Cloud

HPE debuts composable infrastructure lineup

December 8, 2015 Robert Dutt Comments Off on HPE debuts composable infrastructure lineup
HPE shows off the first members of its Synergy family of systems that pool compute, storage, and networking for a more cloud-like data centre.

Storage

Cisco, Nimble Storage extend partnership with new SmartStack offerings

December 2, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Cisco, Nimble Storage extend partnership with new SmartStack offerings
Two of the three new reference architectures are Cisco Validated Design-backed, a first for the SmartStack solutions, which Nimble expects will help partners in several ways.

Storage

HPE announces flurry of 3PAR announcements

November 16, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on HPE announces flurry of 3PAR announcements
Net-new offerings include 3PAR Flash Acceleration for Oracle and the 3PAR StoreServ 8200 Converged File and Block Starter Kit.

Big Data

EMC’s shift in Data Lake strategy opens up new partner opportunities

November 13, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on EMC’s shift in Data Lake strategy opens up new partner opportunities
EMC’s Data Lake 2.0 significantly enhances the original core-focused Data Lake strategy by extending it to the edge and the cloud, as well as strengthening the core. This is also likely to expand partner opportunities somewhat beyond the very limited involvement thought likely when the original Data lake was announced.

Hardware

HP Inc. announces desktop workstation storage, cooling breakthroughs

November 12, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on HP Inc. announces desktop workstation storage, cooling breakthroughs
While HP announced a new mobile workstation, and major enhancements throughout all their ZBook technology, they also announced some significant technology enhancements in both storage and cooling.

Tim FitzGerald, vice president of cloud solutions at Avnet Technology Solutions
Cloud

Avnet opens Cloud Marketplace

November 5, 2015 Robert Dutt Comments Off on Avnet opens Cloud Marketplace
Avnet Technology Solutions makes its debut in the growing field of distribution cloud marketplaces, offering bundled cloud solutions and self-service Web stores for partners.

Channel Programs

Storage vendor X-IO to go all-channel in new, highly-differentiated partner program

November 4, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Storage vendor X-IO to go all-channel in new, highly-differentiated partner program
The program offers tiers for exclusive and non-exclusive partners, an Exclusivity Program rather than deal registration, and high margins. Their Canadian partners have not been very active in the recent past, but a drive in Canada to change that and expand the channel is forthcoming.