The VAR Guy

At the HP Discover conference in Las Vegas, Day 1 of the gathering focused on business analytics, power management and storage management for data centers. Here’s an update.

If you didn’t already know, The VAR Guy is in Orlando (again) for the Dell Storage Forum, gaining insight into Dell’s vision for storage technology and its plans for the channel therein. The word “fluidity” is being used an awful lot at this event, which The VAR Guy is learning has more to do with the technology than Dell’s channel plans. Read on to see what our resident blogger has learned thus far …

Dell debuted its latest storage solution lineup at this week’s Dell Storage Forum, and The VAR Guy (along with everyone else at the event) was introduced to new EqualLogic, Compellent and PowerVault technologies slated for a 2011 release. Read on for the details …

Data centers and virtualization are about as common a pairing these days as peanut butter and jelly, and Westcon Group is hoping its latest Avaya networking switch proves as popular as the tasty lunchtime treat.

Our next Webcast is tomorrow (Wednesday, June 8th) at 2:00 p.m. eastern. The topic is Managed Video and Collaboration Services: 3 Steps to Profits. During the webcast InFocus will unveil a 55-inch touch screen; think of it as a massive iPad for your customers’ conference room walls. Join us to learn how to generate recurring revenues from this managed video and collaboration service. Two top MSPs and InFocus will describe how the new solution was designed with MSPs in mind. We will answer your questions throughout the webcast. I hope you’ll register now to join us.

The VAR Guy apparently is set to infiltrate six different IT channel conferences this week. Skeptical? Here’s the conference lineup — in alphabetical order — for June 6 through June 11, along with what The VAR Guy expects to uncover at each event…

During a recent interview with The VAR Guy, Attachmate CEO Jeff Hawn said he was absolutely committed to the SUSE Linux business — which Attachmate acquired as part of the Novell buyout. But that’s not all. Hawn also described how Novell’s assets would be organized under Attachmate’s ownership. Plus, Hawn predicted Novell’s legacy business — which includes GroupWise and ZenWorks — can potentially return to growth. Here’s the update.

Remember when, a few years back, the explosive popularity of netbooks was going to put Linux in the households of millions of end-users? That never quite happened, but it’s not stopping Asus from introducing new netbooks with Ubuntu preinstalled. Read on for details.

The VAR Guy can’t help but check out the mobile trends that pop up during a partner conference. The Dell Storage Forum is no exception. During a kick-off dinner Sunday, June 5, the conversation turned to mobility — completely off-topic from the event, but here’s what Dell’s Channel Chief Greg Davis had to say about his Windows Phone 7, Android, the iPhone and a the future of mobile:

The VAR Guy is down in sunny Orlando, Fla., for the first-ever Dell Storage Forum, where he’ll be catching up with Dell and Dell’s storage partners. There’s a little bit for everyone here at the Dell Storage Forum, from virtualization and application solutions, PowerVault, EqualLogic and most importantly Dell Compellent Technology solutions. So what is The VAR Guy putting on his plate at this Smörgåsbord? Read on and find out …

Our next Webcast, scheduled for this Wednesday, June 8, connects the dots between SMB video conferencing, collaboration software and recurring revenues for VARs and MSPs. Imagine a simple big screen solution — similar to a massive iPad — for your SMB customers that delivers recurring revenues every month. InFocus and two MSPs will describe three steps to help you get started in this market. Register now and pose your questions to our experts on Wednesday, June 8 at 2:00 p.m. eastern. Separately: Join us June 22 for Vertical Market MSP Strategies.

Selling data storage is like running a grocery store — it may not be the most glorious or exciting corner of the market, but it’s one for which demand is relatively constant. And the data storage channel got a little larger this week with the debut of Likewise Storage Services. Here’s the scoop, and why it matters.

In the data center space, virtualization is the name of the game. The VAR Guy knows that, and he also knows how much end users can benefit from a little upfront collaboration on vendors’ part. That’s the idea behind VMware’s latest solution set that will enable customers using SAP to migrate to virtualized infrastructure powered by VMware and HP. Read on for the details and The VAR Guy’s take …

If you missed it, this past week was the All Things Digital D9 conference, where big industry executives go under the guns of columnists and tech gurus Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher. Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen was interviewed by Walt Mossberg, who was quite candid in his grilling of Narayen regarding the ongoing Flash-Apple device drama. Narayen, however, said the Flash war is over. But is it really?

Microsoft has taken the veil off the mysterious Windows 8, and it’s both brilliant and questionable. Windows 8 is essentially Windows 7 with Windows Phone 7 layered on top, and it performs remarkably well. It’s even got me, the biggest Apple lover of all time, looking forward to Windows 8. Read on for some details, including the official Microsoft YouTube video demonstrating the new technology …

Most VARs in the open source channel are happy just to get free code contributions from their users. Canonical, however, has taken community engagements one step further with the announcement of a user-driven hardware-certification program. Will it work?  Here are some thoughts.

Communications and collaboration vendor Polycom has grabbed a few headlines of late, especially with its acquisition of HP’s Visual Collaboration Business.  of equal import is the launching of its Open Visual Communication Consortium (OVCC), designed to fulfill its “UC Everywhere” ethos. The purpose of the OVCC is to provide an interconnected network specifically designed for delivering video across a range of devices with multiple use cases, with almost no configuration needed. Sound too good to be true? Read on for more details …

Scale Computing is looking to scoop up HP VARs serving the SME space by offering them something different in the way of extra incentives. If you’re an HP VAR assessing the landscape for potential new suitors, Scale Computing’s Partner Program offers free technical training and other goodies designed to re-incentivize and increase the bottom line. Intrigued? Read on for more details …

Avnet is expanding the reach of its RetailPath SolutionPath through its latest partnership with the National Retail Federation. Under the partnership deal, Avnet is now a NRF-qualified distributor that offers the technology needed for retail and has the ability to proctor the exam to VARs who desire an NRF certification. Read on for more information …

The VAR Guy can’t help but notice the growing channel momentum for unified communications. Ingram Micro’s Cloud Marketplace is no exception, announcing its intent to host Siemens Enterprise Communication solutions for SMB customers in the United States and Canada. The whole kit and kaboodle will be available in Q3 of 2011, but here’s what our resident blogger thinks VARs looking to create their own UC momentum should know now  …

As CEO John Chambers seeks to streamline and re-focus Cisco Systems around its core markets, some pundits speculate that Cisco will sell of its WebEx business. But Cisco insiders say such speculation is nonsense. Indeed, Cisco Senior Director of Business Development Richard McLeod moments ago told The VAR Guy — point blank — that the WebEx business is not for sale.

Our next Webcast, scheduled for this coming Wednesday, June 8, connects the dots between SMB video conferencing, collaboration software and recurring revenues for VARs and MSPs. Imagine a simple big screen solution — similar to a massive iPad — for your SMB customers that delivers recurring revenues every month. InFocus and two MSPs will describe three steps to help you get started in this market. Register now and pose your questions to our experts on Wednesday, June 8 at 2:00 p.m. eastern. Plus: Join us June 22 for Vertical Market MSP Strategies.

If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. That’s apparently the tack HP is taking by selling its Visual Collaboration business to conferencing and collaboration powerhouse Polycom. The deal, which is expected to close in the third-quarter of 2011, will shift all of HP’s visual collaboration technology, including its Halo products and managed services business, over to Polycom’s side of the fence.