Reliability, scalability, performance seen as top criteria in choice of storage to support Internet delivery of SAP solutions to small and mid-size customers.
02 November 1999 — Spotlighting the need for highly reliable, highly scalable data storage as a foundation of its Internet-based business, eOnline, Inc. of Cupertino, California has selected Hitachi Data Systems as its strategic supplier of high-end storage subsystems. eOnline is an application service provider focusing exclusively on delivering customized SAP inter-enterprise software solutions to small and mid-sized customers.
eOnline's fixed-price "pay-by-the-month" business model greatly expands the range of customers who can benefit from using SAP solutions to run their businesses. The software will be served and controlled from a central location at eOnline. Customer data resulting from the use of this service will be stored and protected on equipment purchased and maintained by eOnline, allowing customers to take advantage of SAP solutions at reduced costs.
Responding to eOnline's requirement for a storage solution suited to its UNIX® and Windows NT® server environment, Hitachi Data Systems recommended installation of the Hewlett Packard SureStore E Disk Array XP256 subsystem. Based on Hitachi storage technology, the XP256 was jointly developed by Hitachi and Hewlett Packard to perform optimally when operating with the HP-UX™ operating system. Hitachi Data Systems is a reseller of the XP256.
"In our business plan, the most important piece of the equation is making sure customers have access to their data whenever they want it. For that reason, we decided early on that choosing a storage supplier with whom we could have a successful long-term relationship would be a strategic decision," said Bill Augustadt, eOnline Director of Infrastructure. "From our viewpoint, Hitachi is the leader in high-availability storage. Moreover, their ability to provide multiplatform storage tuned to our Hewlett Packard servers gives us a good performance boost. The XP256's scalability over a wide range of capacity will help us keep the total cost of ownership under control as we grow our business."
A single XP256 subsystem can hold a maximum of 9 terabytes of data. Over the next two to three years, eOnline expects to scale its storage capacity up to about 20 terabytes. The company will serve some of its customers via UNIX processors and others through Windows NT processors. Data generated by both of these platforms will be stored in the same XP256 subsystem, greatly simplifying the task of managing and protecting the data.
According to Augustadt, eOnline plans to manage the growth of its storage capacity and handle its data backup requirements through the use of a storage area network (SAN). Both Hitachi Data Systems and Hewlett Packard have embraced "open" standards for SANs, and will work with eOnline to develop a SAN best suited to its heterogeneous environment of Hewlett Packard and Dell servers.
"Combining Hitachi's advanced storage technology with eOnline's expertise in enterprise resource planning allows customers to concentrate on building their businesses, secure in knowing that their information is safely stored, widely accessible, and expertly managed," said Richard Search, Hitachi Data Systems Vice President of Storage Marketing. "The storage subsystem selected by eOnline is an ideal solution for a service aimed at providing comprehensive and reliable results to customers with a wide range of business requirements."
Recognized as a leading provider of business solutions for the world's most IT-intensive corporations, Hitachi Data Systems offers professional services, multiplatform storage subsystems, and the industry's broadest line of high-performance servers. The company's extensive range of products and services, coupled with its business alliances with key industry leaders, enable it to transform IT into business agility for high-end and middle-market customers. Hitachi Data Systems is owned by Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT) and has its headquarters in Santa Clara, California.
Contacts: PR: Hitachi Data Systems
Hitachi Data Systems is registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a trademark and service mark of Hitachi, Ltd. UNIX is a trademark in the United States and other countries, licensed exclusively through X/Open Company, Limited. HP-UX is a trademark of Hewlett Packard Corporation. SAP and all SAP product and service names referenced herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG. Other product and company names herein are trademarks of their respective owners.
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