The VAR Guy

Sometimes the world of technology gets a little … technical. But it’s all worth understanding. Case in point: EMC’s new VFCache. It’s going to bring supercharged caching capabilities to servers for anything from storage, database needs or even application performance. How does it all work? Through a PCI Express slot, of course.

Tech Data has joined VCE to deepen its relationship with cloud and virtualization technology and on behalf of its reseller customers. Read on for a quick refresher on the VCE and how Tech Data partners can benefit …

As promised, day two of the McAfee FOCUS 2011 Security Conference featured new partner agreements and security solution announcements.

Is Cisco Systems committed to VCE (the Virtual Computing Environment Company)? The answer appears to be “absolutely yes,” based on a recent Cisco SEC filing plus chatter from Cisco Global Channel Chief Edison Peres. Here’s the update.

Michael Capellas (pictured) is no longer CEO of VCE, but he remains chairman and his role at the company (which is funded mainly by EMC and Cisco Systems) is unchanged, according to Bob Wambach, senior director of marketing for VCE. Here’s the update.

Michael Capellas (pictured) is widely known as chairman and CEO of VCE — the virtual computing environment company funded mostly by Cisco Systems and EMC, with some help from Intel and VMware. But if you check the VCE website, the Capellas bio lists him as Chairman — with no mention of the CEO role in his VCE title or VCE biography. Hmmm… It could be a simple oversight on VCE’s part. But The VAR Guy has heard rumors about executive changes and potential staff changes in recent weeks.

So much for home field advantage.

The VAR Guy continues to hear from partners who suggest VCE — the startup funded mainly by Cisco Systems and EMC — is undergoing a reorganization. A spokeswoman for VCE on August 15 said company officials were traveling for the next two days and were not available for immediate comment. The VAR Guy estimates EMC, Cisco and other investors have lost a combined $228 million on the VCE effort so far — though an EMC SEC filing suggests “momentum continues to build” for VCE. Here’s a look at The VAR Guy’s math… and VCE’s importance to channel partners.

Staffing adjustments and perhaps even layoffs may be under way at VCE, the virtual computing environment company launched by VMware, Cisco Systems and EMC Corp. Multiple channel partners tell The VAR Guy that VCE has been undergoing a reorganization and perhaps even staff cuts in recent weeks. Still, a recent SEC filing from EMC indicates that VCE’s momentum continues to build despite EMC recording an $88.4 million loss on VCE in the first half of 2011. Here’s the update.

VCE — the Virtual Computing Environment Company backed by VMware, Cisco and EMC — is making the move to distribution this month. On the one hand the move isn’t surprising, based on VCE announcements from May 2011. But on the other hand, Ingram Micro is striving to get ahead of the story — hoping to position itself as VCE’s leading distributor.

Former EMC executive Doug O’Shaughnessy has taken up new digs at storage company Xiotech as the VP of Services. As Xiotech looks to push its Hybrid ISE technology deeper into the marketplace amid high demand for its product, O’Shaughnessy has joined the company to help drive the budding storage company’s future direction. Read on for the quick details …

The VCE Company has launched a new initiative to proliferate the Cisco Systems/EMC/VMware-based technology deeper into the channel by launching a partner program with four distributors. What does this mean for the channel and how does it affect the virtualization landscape? The VAR Guy has some ideas …

Data data everywhere, and not a bit to waste. That’s Hitachi Data Systems’ plan with its partner program, TrueNorth, which has undergone a major overhaul to help partners provide real value-added services to customers in the ever-growing demand of data. HDS’ senior VP of Global Partners Mike Walkey, VP of Global Partner Enablement Tonia Gonsalves  and Senior Product Marketing Manager for Services Joe Jose offered up the details of the revised program:

Three technology stalwarts reported strong quarterly earnings, furthering the notion that the tech sector is healthy despite a still-anemic economy. Apple Computer, EMC and F5 Networks – all of which represent a separate corner of IT – each posted double-digit revenues and earnings, thanks in part to end users opening their wallets and investing in new technologies.

EMC is shaking up its channel partner program to help its partners make the best of their sales situations. New incentives, new deal registration bonuses and more upfront discounts are just part of the plan. I had a quick chat with EMC’s Gregg Ambulos, Senior VP of Global Channel Operations And Americas Channel Sales, about the updates to EMC’s Velocity Solution Provider Partner program. Here are the details …

Maybe Oracle CEO Larry Ellison is a miracle worker. Or maybe Ellison somehow sold his soul to revitalize Sun Microsystems’ business. Either way, Oracle’s hardware product gross margins are rising — yes, rising — amid strong channel demand for Exadata and Exalogic solutions. Indeed, Oracle’s quarterly revenues rose 37 percent to $8.8 billion, while net income rose 78% to $2.1 billion, fueled in part by Exadata and Exalogic sales. Here’s the update.

It looks like Big Blue may be trying to counter the VCE (VMware, Cisco, EMC) world with its latest ‘standardized’ approach in the marketplace. IBM’s new Pre-Engineered Technology Service Model aims bring a streamlined, one-stop shop approach to its services and solutions. The goal is to provide a quicker, more robust and less expensive near-turnkey offering than traditional multi-vendor deployments have in the past. So what is IBM’s end game? Read on for some perspective.

Intel is aiming to be part of the cloud frontier with its new free unified networking technology that will enable data center traffic to run over one single cable. Translation? Consolidation of cable equipment and infrastructure. Read on for some implications for MSPs and VARs managing their data centers …

Storage system specialist Nexsan has announced that 25-year industry veteran Victoria Grey will be taking over as VP of Marketing, putting her in charge of global corporate and channel marketing efforts. Here are some quick details:

Even as FalconStor Software investigates alleged wrongdoings by its former CEO, the storage software specialist continues to march forward. Only a few weeks after announcing a managed services relationship with Hewlett-Packard, FalconStor is back in this news, this time disclosing that Brendan Kinkade is now VP of channel management and global alliances. In his new role, Kinkade will be overseeing FalconStor’s relationships with resellers of their disk protection solutions as well as alliances with other companies to increase their reach. Here’s the scoop.

Cisco and VMware are joining forces to provide a virtual desktop solution with “channel initiatives” to help accelerate Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) deployments. The plan is based on Cisco’s Unified Computing System and VMware View 4.5. Will the incentives attract more channel partners to the VDI discussion? Read on for the details…

IT infrastructure giant EMC Corp. is buying storage specialist Isilon for approximately $2.25 billion. The deal should be finished by the end of the calendar year, and will see Isilon act as an independent subsidiary of EMC. Here are some details.

Westcon Group, know for specialty distribution in the fields of data, networking and security, has launched a “LEAP” effort that’s focused on virtualization and cloud infrastructure solutions, complete with VAR training. Read on for the potential implications.