Hitachi is to resell DataCore Software's SANsymphony 5.0 storage management software, claiming the sale will improve the overall cost and flexibility of its storage systems.

It has signed an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreement to help meet what it believes are customer demands for a combination of management and intelligent storage that would become more open and reduce their costs.

"Hitachi builds the best high-end and mid-range storage hardware and has the most customer-oriented sales channel," said Ziya Aral, DataCore chairman.

"With this broad agreement, Hitachi has shown its embrace of open technology and [recognised] its customers' desire for heterogeneity and flexibility," he added.

DataCore SANsymphony products work with a variety of networks, storage arrays and operating environments. They are designed to automate storage management and consolidate data, particularly for enterprise customers.

For Hitachi, it will provide additional data protection, disaster recovery and data migration services. Cost savings are expected to come from better capacity and storage system usage.

"Customers are demanding synergy of management software and intelligent storage systems to reduce total cost of ownership," said Ikuo Kimura, Hitachi chief operating officer, in a statement.

"SANsymphony strengthens Hitachi storage solutions for effective utilisation, flexibility and availability."

DataCore products are sold through resellers, systems integrators and other OEM agreements.