The VAR Guy

Distributors are falling over each other to show Cisco Systems channel partners some data center love. A prime example: Only hours after Westcon Group Inc. said its Comstor division will distribute Cisco’s Unified Computing System, Ingram Micro reiterated its Cisco data center push. But there’s a bigger story here: Cisco’s server channel is growing. Here’s the scoop.

When Cisco Systems ships Unified Computing solutions this summer, BlueWater Communications intends to make a splash. The New York-based solutions provider will attend Cisco training seminars in April and May, and expects to receive Cisco’s first Unified Computing solutions in June or July. But that’s not all. During a TelePresence meeting with The VAR Guy on March 20, Cisco and BlueWater executives pulled back the curtain a bit further on Unified Computing.

Most folks are focusing on Cisco Systems’ consumer electronics push this week. But The VAR Guy is keeping one eye on the data center — where Cisco apparently is preparing to launch blade servers. If true, our resident blogger wonders: How soon will Cisco speed dial Red Hat, MySQL, Novell, SugarCRM and other open source application providers?

It’s the story that won’t go away: Cisco Systems plans to launch blade servers. GigaOm reported that way back in March 2008. Network World furthered the story about the so-called “Cisco California Server” on December 12 and December 16. And now CRN on December 23 is confirming the Cisco blade server strategy, though CRN did little more than quote the same Yankee Group analyst — Senior VP Zeus Kerravala — that Network World reached two weeks ago. Hmmm: great job, Scoop Brady. Next time, though: Link out to Network World and give credit where credit is due.