Federal Police to migrate to EMC storage

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has agreed to spend nearly $2m on EMC equipment to expand its Storage Area Network (SAN).

Four tenders were awarded to Dimension Data, which would supply Clariion Cx4 networked storage equipment, relevant storage processor enclosures (SPE) and migration software.

According to an AFP spokesperson, the purchase was part of its 'Information Services Infrastructure capital bid for 2009/2010', which incorporated the provision of additional storage for AFP corporate systems.

"The equipment is required to expand the Storage Area Network (SAN) environment, to allow for continuing growth across AFP ICT systems," the spokesman told iTnews.

"The specific equipment was chosen to be compatible with the AFP's existing equipment within the SAN environment."

Dimension Data would provide installation, support and maintenance of EMC's Clariion Cx4 960 storage array for $819,692 and EMC Cx4 SPE equipment for $909,067.

It also would provide EMC PowerPath software to migrate data from Windows for $137,599, and PowerPath for IBM's AIX Operating Systems for $72,697.

Dimension Data was on the AFP's ICT Products and Associated Services Panel, which was established in 2008 and now comprised an estimated 160 members.

In accordance with Commonwealth procurement guidelines, the AFP issued panel members with a Request for Quotation.

Dimension Data's quotation was deemed to represent the best value for money, the AFP spokesman explained.