VMware and NetApp take aim at mid-sized firms

NetApp and VMware are to offer a combined virtualisation platform designed for medium-sized enterprises.

The partnership will bring together VMware's Vcenter Server virtualisation platform with NetApp's virtual storage console, or equip NetApp FAS storage hardware with VMware's VSphere virtualisation hardware.

The companies claim that combining the products will allow companies to improve areas such as security and reliability.

NetApp and VMware said that the offering provides the traditional advantages of virtualisation, such as a reduction in the number of physical systems and resource scalability over the long term.

The partnership can also allow mid-sized firms to improve reliability and backup for servers, while streamlining disaster recovery procedures.

"Midsize customers continue to grapple with IT complexities and inefficiencies that can affect their bottom line," said NetApp vice president of solutions and alliances Patrick Rogers.

"Working together, NetApp and VMware are committed to helping midsize enterprises evolve to an efficient IT infrastructure that enables them to be nimble, manage change and capitalise on opportunities while better aligning IT with the business."

VMware and NetApp joined Cisco earlier this year to offer business customers a converged fibre-channel networking platform.