Storage Industry Shifts to Open Source Communities

Strategic Insights -

IBM, alongside other major storage vendors, is shifting its strategy from storage consortia to open source communities. The new initiative, named Aperi, aims to provide customers with open-standards-based storage infrastructure software, giving them more choices in deployment. The community will focus on developing a common software platform for managing various storage systems, with a goal of standardizing on interoperable storage hardware interfaces.

Key Takeaways:

  • IBM is leading the formation of an open source community, Aperi, with other major storage vendors like Sun, Network Appliance, McData, Fujitsu, Brocade, Cisco, CA, and Engenio Information Technologies.
  • Aperi aims to develop a common, flexible software platform for managing all brands of storage systems, with community members contributing open source code.
  • The system will be free, and the founders plan to donate part of their storage infrastructure management technology.
  • Standardizing on a common software infrastructure platform will allow customers to choose from a greater range of storage management products, reduce "rip and replace" requirements, and cut training needs.
  • The community will adhere to standards like the Storage Networking Industry Association's (SNIA) Storage Management Initiative Specification (SMI-S) for interoperable storage hardware interfaces.

Statistics:

  • Aperi is a joint effort between major storage vendors, with the goal of developing a common software platform for managing various storage systems.
  • The community aims to reduce the costs and complexities associated with managing multiple storage systems by standardizing on a common software infrastructure platform.
  • According to IBM, customers will benefit from increased choices in deployment, reduced training requirements, and decreased costs associated with "rip and replace" scenarios.

Sources:

  • IBM (no specific date mentioned)
  • Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA)
  • Aperi initiative announcement (no specific date mentioned)