NetApp Powers BT Virtual Data Centre
AUSTRALIA, Sydney - October 28, 2009
- NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP) recently announced it will provide
the storage infrastructure to support BT's new Virtual Data Centre
(VDC). BT, one of the world's leading providers of communications
solutions and services, is offering a multi-tenanted service aimed
at mid-sized and larger businesses that are looking to move all or
part of their IT resources onto a pay for use platform. BT chose
NetApp hardware for VDC due to the strong relationship the two
companies have had for several years. BT has used NetApp equipment
extensively in its existing data centres.
BT already hosts data and applications for a
wide range of businesses. VDC aims to move customers from tailored
hosting arrangements to a service where organisations can buy the
exact capacity they require. BT has added the ability to configure
an entire data centre from a single console with the ability to
provision servers, storage, and network resources with built-in
resilience and business continuity. The partnership with NetApp
allows BT to automate the day-to-day storage management resources
needed as part of the package, which in turn allows BT's engineers
to focus their time and energy on revenue generating
activities.
"NetApp's involvement in the development of
VDC further builds on our successful track record in working
together," said Craig Parker, head of global IT services
propositions at BT Global Services. "The scalability of NetApp
hardware and its ease of use enables us to fulfil customer
provisioning orders made via VDC's self-service portal in a rapid
and cost effective manner."
A blade service architecture, combined with
NetApp storage systems and virtualization software allows BT
customers to have their infrastructure and Windows-based
applications up and running on the VDC in just five days. Once the
system is up, existing VDC customers will be able to deploy a
virtual server in as little as 15 minutes. Because the NetApp
storage infrastructure takes care of so much of the basic storage
management, from Snapshots and off-site replication to
deduplication, the storage infrastructure is largely self managing,
needing little in the way of day-to-day support.
"With NetApp, BT can provide a flexible,
cost-effective alternative to in-house data centres", said Patrick
Rogers, vice president of Solutions and Alliances at NetApp. "BT
utilised the twin technologies of server and storage virtualization
- already proven in their own data centres - to deliver IT as a
Service. NetApp is excited to be a foundational element in their
VDC architecture."
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About BT
BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications
solutions and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal
activities include the provision of networked IT services globally;
local, national and international telecommunications services to
our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband
and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile
products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of
business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT
Wholesale.
In the year ended 31 March 2009, BT Group's
revenue was £21,390 million.
British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually
all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed
on stock exchanges in London and New York.
For more information, visit
www.bt.com/aboutbt.
About NetApp
NetApp creates innovative storage and data management solutions
that accelerate business breakthroughs and deliver outstanding cost
efficiency. Discover NetApp's passion for helping companies around
the world go further, faster at www.netapp.com/au.
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Media Contact
Rachel York
Max Australia
02 9954 3492
rachel.york@maxaustralia.com.au