There are signs that integrated solutions are taking priority with SAN software vendors. Veritas Software Corp. (Nasdaq: VRTS) is integrating its i3 application performance management software with its Storage Foundation, Cluster Server, and Volume Manager software (see Veritas Upgrades Suite). IBM also has unveiled a grand scheme to wed virtualization in storage and computers with management software (see IBM Revs Virtualization Engine). AppIQ Inc. has announced the addition of provisioning to its storage resource management (SRM) software (see AppIQ Tackles Provisioning).
All this is progress. For big companies like Veritas and IBM, the strategy to integrate SAN management with other IT management functions is crucial to future success, says Mike Karp, senior analyst at consultancy Enterprise Management Associates (EMA). "IT responsibilities fall into three general areas: storage, network, and services. You can't be comprehensive unless you do all three."
Smaller players like AppIQ benefit from OEM deals with big players, according to analyst Jamie Gruener of Yankee Group: "[AppIQ has] taken a lot of pain out of device and SAN management. And it's extremely significant that Sun Microsystems and Hitachi Data Systems are actively using their solution as part of their portfolios."
These developments and others show it's not unrealistic to expect better integration of SAN management wares. Vendors are working on it. What's more, standards may come into play, such as the Storage Management Initiative Specification (SMI-S) recently blessed by the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) (see Playing Nice, the Standards Way). "Everybody has subscribed to it. Even EMC has realized its importance," Karp notes.
Indeed, a recent interview with EMC director of technology analysis Ken Steinhardt reveals a strong party line in favor of SNIA's new specs (see EMC Warms to All).
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