NetApp Introduces Software-Defined Storage for VMware Virtual Volumes

Network data storage and management solutions provider NetApp (NTAP) has unveiled solutions for VMware‘s (VMW’s) Virtual Volumes (VVols) storage systems.

Suzette Pereira-Beardsley, solutions marketing manager for VMware Solutions, told Talkin’ Cloud she believes VVols will transform virtual machine-level (VM-level) management of storage resources and data services.

“VVols are setting the stage to fundamentally change how storage arrays manage VMware VMs,” she said. “VVols provide granular VM management, allowing VMs to be individually configured … Now, key storage services such as snapshots, quality of service and disaster recovery can all be defined and applied by the storage array.”

The new NetApp solutions, meanwhile, are designed to deliver policy-based software-defined storage management for VVols and increase and simplify automation for both NetApp and VMware customers.

“Software-defined storage is a foundation for the cloud that allows NetApp and VMware to deliver agile, simple and [easily] scalable IT infrastructures,” Dan Neault, senior vice president of NetApp’s data center solutions group, said in a prepared statement. “Our new solutions for VMware environments accelerate our customers’ businesses with automated, simple and efficient IT operations.”

NetApp also has announced OnCommand database management software with enhanced protection and reporting capabilities and flash-optimized FlexPod with VMware Horizon View that “delivers virtualized and remote desktops and applications through a single platform.”

The network data storage and management solutions provider noted the new offerings could help companies become more efficient and lower their IT costs.

How does the NetApp-VMware partnership impact customers?

John Gilmartin, vice president and general manager of VMware’s software-defined data center (SDDC) suite business unit, said he believes both NetApp and VMware are focused on improving IT efficiency and performance.

He noted NetApp’s new solutions could help more companies leverage SDDCs to better manage their cloud storage.

“NetApp’s new solutions for VMware environments will help provide our mutual customers with the technology needed to help them meet the challenges of this new era,” he said.

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