Brocade adds to StorageWorks

By James Sherwood on Jul 10, 2006 1:49 PM
Filed under Storage

Network storage vendor expands relationship with Hewlett-Packard.

Network storage vendor Brocade has expanded its hardware relationship with Hewlett-Packard (HP) by adding three storage networking products to HP’s StorageWorks division.

The three Brocade products to be offered are the HP StorageWorks 4/64 SAN switch, based on the Brocade Silkworm 4900, the HP MP 400 Router, based on the Silkworm 7500 and the HP MP Router Blade for the HP SAN Director.

Mike Murphy, OEM sales manager for HP business units across EMEA and Latin America at Brocade, told CRN: “This agreement opens up new market segments for channel partners. It also allows them to solve more ‘pain points’ for customers.”

Brocade said that HP’s StorageWorks end-users will now be able to access a full range of next-generation and high-performance SANs based on Brocade technology.

Kyle Fitze, director of SAN marketing at HP’s StorageWorks division, stated: “We are pleased to expand the HP StorageWorks family of 4Gbps products made by Brocade.”

Brocade recently expanded its relationships with distributors Acal, Bell Microproducts, Demand IT and InTechnology by signing them to its Tapestry Fabric Partner Programme (CRN, 18 January).

Paul Reeve, divisional director for storage at Acal, told CRN: “This makes sense for Brocade. It needs to get its products to market in a fast and efficient manner, and HP provides it with that mechanism.

“I can see this as a channel benefit because it strengthens the market perception of Brocade by having an HP endorsement behind it.”

james_sherwood@vnu.co.uk