Snap Appliance, which is one of very few players left offering low-end NAS devices running on an operating system other than Windows, must be feeling the burn most acutely now. But, as Microsoft continues to move up into the midtier NAS market and EMC uses its partnership with Microsoft to make its way down to lower ground, NetApp risks getting squished between them.
Were certainly facing a new dynamic in the marketplace, EMCs Hollis says. EMCs soon-to-be released NetWin 200 will be based on Windows Storage Server.
But perhaps EMC shouldnt feel so smug. Analysts warn that an 800-pound gorilla like Microsoft could eventually smash everything in its path -- including its partners. Sooner or later, the machine will run you over, says Enterprise Storage Group Inc. founder Steve Duplessie, pointing out that Microsoft could eventually compete directly with EMCs Celerra NAS platform. Eventually, theyll hurt everybody.
Taneja agrees that EMCs alliance with Microsoft could prove a double-edged sword. At the moment, it looks opportunistic, he says, but in 12 to 18 months, theyre going to need to make some strategic decisions... Long term, its not going to be worry-free for [EMC].
Hollis, however, says hes not worried: We see the Windows Storage Server as complementary to Celerra. We think theyll soldier side by side for a while.
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