By Mark Davison at NetApp Insight, Dublin – With the launch of its new EF 550 flash array, NetApp looks to have caught traditional storage competitors on the hop – and it could have a significant head start in this potentially lucrative market.
Matt Watts, director of technology and strategy at NetApp EMEA, says that the EF 550 – which comprises two rack units and is 10% of the cost of comparable, traditional Tier 1 storage units – could prove to be a major disrupter in the market.
“There is a simple reason that our new flash arrays will disrupt the market – commercial,” says Watts. “In the majority of cases where traditional Tier 1 storage is implemented, it is purely for performance and reliability – that’s it. The problem is that the cost of this is typically seven figures. The EF 550, in just two rack units – not racks, units – provides over 450 000 I/O per second and sub-one minute latency, and comes in at 10% of the price.
“It is definitely going to be disruptive,” he says.
Watts says that NetApp could have a significant head start on its competitors in flash array, but that he’s not too sure how long this will be.
“I’m not sure what IBM is going to do [in flash array] or whether HP with 3Par can develop continued success in solid state,” he says. “And EMC is obviously nervous about doing too much as it could affect its Tier 1 business.
“You are then left with about 53 start-ups who typically exist for two reasons: an IPO or acquisition,” Watts says. “Where will they be in one year’s time?
“I’m looking at one space and that is commercial around flash where you really need reliance and performance,” he says. “With the EF 550, we’ve got that. The data management that is offered is not much more than what we already do. The guys who should be worried are the Tier 1 guys,” Watts says.
“We’ve always been classed as a Tier 2 storage vendor and I’ve never been so glad that we are. It means we can now look forward to attacking that traditional Tier 1 space.”