NetApp has launched its own VMware audit and migration service amid continued customer concerns about rising licensing costs and service uncertainty.
Unveiled at its annual conference, the storage company also expanded its cross-functionality with VMware, including deeper integrations with its new line of ASA A-Series block storage, signaling it has no plans to abandon its ties with the storage pioneer. virtualization, but is aware of greater customer discomfort.
NetApp's new capabilities to improve hybrid cloud functionality and expansion of its auditing and migration options follow a wave of similar moves by its competitors, such as Pure storage and Oracle.
But as other companies rush to build their relationships with hypervisor alternatives, including Nutanix and Hyper-V, many companies are wondering where NetApp stands in the face of VMware's current mess.
NetApp CEO George Kurian attempted to clear up this confusion during a press conference at its annual conference.
“I would say we are best friends with VMware customers and follow what customers want. I think what we see in client environments are four different positions that clients observe. The first is that they want to optimize the cost of their VMware estate. “We have fantastic solutions for them to do that,” he said.
“Our ASA products, for example, can reduce the cost of storage in a VMware environment by 25% or more, and that's why we want to start that conversation,” Kurian added.
“The second [point] There are some customers who say, “Listen, I want to look at public cloud as a way to replatform my applications or as a way to manage my expenses with VMware.” “We have worked with VMware and public cloud providers to provide you with very cost-effective options.”
Kurian gave the example of customers looking to move non-production (test and development) or disaster protection environments to the public cloud, noting that NetApp also has robust solutions for these use cases, which he said are more cost-effective than in facilities.
NetApp CEO: “We have always believed in multi-vendor platforms”
For customers looking to modernize their IT estate, Kurian stated that NetApp has the “richest functionality” with Red Hat of any other player in the industry, stating that there is work between the two to enable Kubernetes applications. This is in addition to ongoing collaborations with Google Distributed Cloud and Anthos in similar areas.
Kurian insisted that the company has always been a proponent of multi-vendor platforms, citing how the company offers a clear advantage for customers looking to migrate to new hypervisor solutions.
“We have always believed in multi-vendor platforms… [One of] The unique benefits we see are for customers who have storage on NetApp: they can move to a new hypervisor or a new container model without interruption thanks to the metadata conversion techniques that are available on NetApp.”
Kurian gave the example of one of the largest hedge funds in North America, which NetApp helped in the transition to Hyper-V, stating that its belief in the multi-vendor strategy is a differentiator from the competition.
“I think our approach is much more consultative than some of the other providers. It's “listening to customers and seeing what options [they want]“We have as broad a support as anyone else.”
Kurian highlighted some of the recent moves by NetApp's competitors in aligning themselves with where they see midsize businesses turning as rising costs drive them away from VMware, arguing that storage vendors need to be transparent with customers and not leave them stranded. and dry afterwards. having invested heavily in a particular ecosystem.
“I'm just pointing out that it's irresponsible for someone who claims to be a customer partner to say, 'Today I'm positioning VMware and VXrail for you,' and tomorrow to turn around and say, 'Go to Nutanix.' Where does that leave the customer?