For almost a decade, NetApp and VMware have aligned their storage and virtualisation technology roadmaps to accelerate the customer journey to the cloud. NetApp has unveiled integration between VMware vSphere 5.1 and NetApp Data ONTAP 8 software operating in Cluster-Mode to enable organisations to not only securely manage and deploy infinite storage pools, but to deliver non-disruptive migration of data among hundreds of virtual machines at a time. This new solution provides continuous data access and uninterrupted business operations even as infrastructure grows and scales in capacity and performance, and it requires no change to server hosts.
 
As part of the NetApp and VMware solution, NetApp is also introducing Virtual Storage Console 4.1 (VSC 4.1), a new version of its end-to-end storage management software for VMware environments. VSC 4.1 adds support for VMware v Sphere 5.1, enhanced support for NetApp Cluster-Mode configurations, and online alignment of misaligned virtual machines. The new features expand on support for existing VSC capabilities for storage management, including data store provisioning, virtual machine cloning, and backup and recovery of virtual machines. VSC 4.1 is accessible by VMware administrators directly from VMware vCenter, centralising storage management and providing real-time visibility into the performance and health of your storage environment.

Together, NetApp and VMware are collaborating to accelerate movement to cloud architectures. NetApp support for VMware vCloud Suite 5.1 will enable a new era of software-defined storage, networking, and security. Data ONTAP operating in Cluster-Mode extends the virtualisation benefits of VMware with the ability to transparently migrate data within a cluster to provide non disruptive load balancing, hardware maintenance, or technology refreshes—virtually eliminating planned storage downtime. NetApp offers complete integration with the entire VMware cloud infrastructure suite, including VMware vCloud Director, VMware View, and VMware vShield.

"The transition to cloud is a corporate strategy, not a tactical solution. The foundation for this business approach is a dynamic virtualised infrastructure with an easy-to-administer shared storage platform,” said Brendon Howe, Vice President, Product and Solutions Marketing, NetApp. “We continue to align our technology development and integration efforts with VMware with support for VMware vCloud Suite 5.1 to help organisations realise the power of software to greatly improve the efficiency and simplify the virtualisation of more servers, desktops, and applications.”

Other benefits from the NetApp and VMware integration include Data ONTAP Edge, which delivers enterprise storage services on a virtual storage appliance hosted by VMware. For remote offices, Data ONTAP Edge addresses the needs of enterprises with many small or remote offices that require local storage with minimal IT supervision and to be able to backup and protect that data easily. The result is that branch facilities can fully participate in a shared IT infrastructure without compromise.

Gary Green, Vice President, Global Strategic Alliances, VMware said, “As organisations of all sizes realise the benefits of cloud computing, there is a need for virtualised storage and server solutions that are reliable, proven and scalable. With VMware vCloud Suite 5.1, along with NetApp’s solutions, our joint customers are armed with storage efficiency, performance and data protection for enhanced productivity and the ability to respond immediately to business needs.”