As VMware Momentum Continues, STORServer Reinvents Appliance Delivery Methods by Offering Encapsulated Virtual Machines

Among the vendor teams that I met at SNW this year, the team from STORServer stood out to me as having the best use of appliance technology built using VMware systems. STORServer offers an appliance built on IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM) to simplify data backup. STORServer was there to talk about their VCB capabilities, which simplify VMware Consolidated Backup adoption - certainly a good use of an appliance solution approach. But more interestingly, I felt, was their use of VMware technology built into their appliance to speed the delivery of new applications capabilities to their customers.

Here's how it works: STORServer offers new Virtual Machine configurations that can be a added to the STORServer appliance already on-site in a customer environment. This can allow new turn-key applications supported by STORServer to be added to their appliance, without the need to purchase more hardware. This exciting applications-delivery method is demonstrated by STORServer's new alliance with Mimosa Systems. Organizations can now get a preconfigured VMware-powered appliance that does both backup and archive: STORServer's encapsulated TSM backup runs in one Virtual Machine, while Mimosa email archive runs in another.

The move by software providers to an appliance-based delivery model is something that I've been watching for some time, working with Bell Micro's HP OEM team. I recognize the benefits of appliance delivery, both to purchasing organizations as well as to vendors: simplified installation, operation, support and maintenance make this delivery method particularly attractive in the SMB and commercial-tier market. Large enterprise organizations can benefit, as well, since every organization needs simpler-to-manage software.

For evidence of appliance success, consider STORServer's backup appliance which encapsulates IBM Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM). Long recognized to be superior enterprise data management software, TSM has been too complex and expensive for most mid-tier organizations to consider. STORServer simplifies TSM by eliminating software installation, simplifying configuration through guided setup Wizards, and enhancing management with new control and reporting capabilities. Administrators using STORServer never see the embedded TSM software. But, they experience the benefits of TSM, including reliable, scalable backup capabilities like incremental forever, and efficient recovery.

Using this approach, STORServer has quietly captured over 500 customers and claims a 90% renewal rate which demonstrates customer loyalty. This business performance for an organization founded in 2000, while not a screaming success, shows that they have gotten something right.

Something else that STORServer seems to have gotten right: they work 100% through VARs, enabling VARs to participate in maintenance renewal revenue while they provide technical support direct to the customer. This approach provides VARs with the business incentive that they must have to help in the sales process, while enabling STORServer to maintain visibility to their customers.

Taking appliance capabilities one step further by building on VMware systems, as STORServer has done, seems an inevitable evolution which offers many benefits in flexibility and management. STORServer gets points for being one of the first. STORServer's alliance opportunities seem wide-open with this approach, and their customers seem poised to benefit from a virtually endless stream of potential added capabilities (pun intended).

You can find out more on STORServer's technology, at their web site: www.storserver.com.