Vertias Software has expanded its product line-up as it continues its move from a storage applications company into a so-called utility software vendor.
At its user group conference in Las Vegas this month the company announced a broadening of its CommandCentral suite, the next generation
of its i3 application performance management software, a roadmap for technologies gained from its purchase of Ejascent Inc. and a strengthening of its consulting services division.
“”One of the things that came out of the conference was Veritas can deliver on utility computing now,”” said Fred Dimson, general manager of Veritas Canada.
However, he also said that the vision of grid or on-demand computing “”is not prime time yet.”” But he said customers can start to erect building blocks to that goal through the company’s virtualization products.
CommandCentral is the name for a family of applications which brings under a common interface software the company had under different names. Two additions to the suite were announced: CommandCentral Availability 4.0, (which used to be called Global Cluster Manager 3.5), provides centralized cluster visualization and operation control so service level agreements can be met efficiently; and CommandCentral Storage 4.0, which combines Veritas SANPoint Control management software with its Storage Reporter application.
The modules will be available in July for US$20,000 each. The complete CommandCentral suite costs US$64,000.
The company also announced a strengthening of its global services organization by forming four practices: disaster recovery, storage management, application performance management and utility computing. However, Dimson said these are not aimed at displacing VARs but for large projects which resellers can’t handle.
Brian Brown, principal technology advisor at Toronto-based Infostream Technologies who was at the conference, liked the product announcements.
The new version of i3 extends the ability of companies to get an end-to-end view across their entire IT infrastructure, he said, while the additions to CommandCentral will help managers see more of their storage environments.
An industry analyst notes the efforts Veritas is making to move from a storage software to a virtualization application company for utility computing could come at a price.
“”My sense is Veritas is working to create a complete stack of software in time for the need (for utility computing) to be perceived by their customers,”” said Dan Kuznetsky of IDC in an interview. “”But if they are late in any particular capability they may not have a product offering in a given area.””
Its strategy of gaining capabilities by buying other companies also has risks, he said.
Canadian VARs and customers will get a closer look at the products at Veritas Vision Canada in Toronto on June 1.