Sun Microsystems, Inc. and Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) indicated that the two companies have reached an agreement whereby HDS will take over the engineering of Sun's 6920 array, a product acquired from Pirus Networks in 2002. Sun and HDS have been selling co-branded Hitachi arrays for more than five years and the companies confirmed the agreement will be extended through 2009. Sun will continue to support the product in the field as it does with other co-branded products acquired from HDS.
What does this mean?
To most customers it doesn't mean much as the 6920 was destined for end of life soon anyway. The agreement is however symbolic of yet another failure of Sun in the storage market and signals continued momentum by HDS. HP and Sun are the big reseller prizes at the high end of the disk array market and HDS has sold excellent volumes through both companies for several years. This deal means more wind at the back of HDS' NSC which Sun co-brands as the 9985 and 9990.
Ironically, Sun's Chairman Scott McNealy has often likened the computer business to the U.S. auto industry where the 'Big Three' car makers (IBM, Intel and Sun) made all the big money verus the 'car dealers,' (Dell and HP) who all had boats and big homes but never made nearly as much as the guys with the factories.
When it comes to storage makers, it looks like Sun is headed the way of AMC.
Action Item:
Footnotes: