EqualLogic Introduces Preferred Partner Program for Virtual Infrastructures : @VMblog

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EqualLogic Introduces Preferred Partner Program for Virtual Infrastructures

EqualLogic(R), the leading provider of enterprise-class iSCSI storage area network (SAN) solutions, today introduced the Preferred VMware Partner Program to address the growing customer demand for complete virtual infrastructure solutions based on VMware Infrastructure 3 and EqualLogic PS Series storage. EqualLogic's Preferred VMware Partner Program leverages the in-house VMware expertise and professional services offerings of key partners to provide customers with turnkey virtual infrastructure solutions.

Members of EqualLogic's Preferred VMware Partner Program include select VMware Authorized Consultants (VACs) and VIP Enterprise Partners who are fully trained and qualified to sell, implement and support VMware Infrastructure 3 environments based on EqualLogic iSCSI SAN solutions. In addition, these partners offer services to simplify the deployment of VMware Infrastructure 3 including assessment, design, implementation and management services.

"We are delighted to be part of this unique program," said Fred Nix, chief technology officer at Syscom Technologies. "EqualLogic's virtualized iSCSI storage is ideally suited for VMware Infrastructure 3 to create flexible and cost effective virtual environments. We strongly recommend the joint EqualLogic/VMware solution to address the virtual infrastructure needs of our customers."

Storage consolidation is a key component of virtual infrastructures to increase storage utilization, enrich corporate data protection methods, enable disaster recovery and enhance virtual server availability and workload migration. By deploying EqualLogic as the storage backbone in a VMware environment, IT managers circumvent the cost and complexity of traditional Fibre Channel SANs without compromising the enterprise-class storage demands of a VMware Infrastructure 3 environment. EqualLogic has qualified and fully supports the EqualLogic PS Series family in VMware Infrastructure 3 environments.

"These experienced VMware partners are leading the industry in architecting and deploying virtualized infrastructures and have been quick to recognize the benefits and advantages of deploying an EqualLogic virtualized iSCSI SAN in support of them," said Bob Skelley, vice president of channel development at EqualLogic. "These partners have the expertise and services that enable our customers to implement world-class virtual-data-center solutions to overcome the resource constraints they face. We are pleased to have them as partners for this important initiative at EqualLogic."

Preferred VMware Partners also will be available as business partners to other EqualLogic channel partners. This will extend the opportunity for Preferred VMware Partners to deliver their VMware professional services and expertise to current and prospective customers throughout the entire community of EqualLogic resellers. In addition, these preferred partners will receive benefits including training, market development funds and access to cooperative marketing and sales programs to advance virtualized infrastructure business.

EqualLogic is a VMware Technology Alliance Program partner. A cornerstone of the partnership is a joint effort to fully integrate EqualLogic's PS Series iSCSI SANs with VMware's suite of virtual infrastructure solutions in support of a growing base of customers and resellers who require both virtual storage and server technologies to simplify data center operations. EqualLogic and VMware have a cooperative support agreement in place to ensure customers experience seamless support for their deployment of the two companies' combined product sets.

Members of EqualLogic's VMware Preferred Partners Program include: