1T2C

Last week I was introduced to an offering by a Colorado Springs-based vendor, STORserver. They have an interesting value proposition: eliminate all, or as many as you would like, of the various point vendors and let us be the "one throat to choke", or, if I may, 1T2C.

They do this by providing a tested suite of standard products in a mix that meets clients' needs. It can range from as much as the backup software (Tivoli Storage Manager), their own TSM management software (changes the CLI interface to an easy-to-use GUI), their own reporting utility (Reporter for TSM), VMware Consolidated Backup (native VCB), the server(s) to run the software (IBM), the array to store the backup on (IBM DS3000, Xyratex or Compellent), and/or the library for tape (Spectra Logic or Qualstar). Or any logical combination of these where the client has already too much invested to replace. They then take ownership of the turnkey installation and ongoing maintenance, hence: 1T2C.

Now, obviously, any components that aren't supplied by STORserver are supported by the vendor that supplied it, which erodes the 1T2C paradigm. But it is interesting, nonetheless. Arguably "best of breed" components, fully qualified, integrated, installed and supported by one mature organization. I look forward to taking a deeper technical dive into their offering and plan to speak with some of their customers. And that is one thing they don't seem to be lacking. After 12 years in business, they have amassed over 600 clients. Not bad.

Let me not forget why I was talking with them in the first place. Credit where credit is due: they were introduced to me by Ken Ryan of Spectra Logic. I invited them in because, at TriAxis, we don't seem to provide as much value in existing TSM environments when it comes to data protection. What I was shown by the STORserver rep, Leslie Clater, was that they could make one of the best backup software packages on the planet work simpler and regurgitate pertinent information better in installed TSM customers.

I liked what I saw at first glimpse, but it was very interesting that this whole appliance approach plans to take on multi-vendor approaches for backup software replacement opportunities. The 1T2C approach instead of: “Data Domain says the problem is on the CommVault side…" followed by "CommVault says their application is providing the data as fast as it is receiving it, the problem is with your backup server…" followed by "Dell says the backup server is fine, call Microsoft to get the latest patches…" and so on.

Not to get too far off the subject concerning 1T2C, but earlier today I had an interesting conversation with Raju Chekuri, CEO of NetEnrich. He said that, especially in the data protection space, he has become the 1T2C to an increasing number of clients. Among other areas, he is finding increasingly that the complexity of legacy (read: NetBackup, Networker, TSM) backup applications is helping fuel his outsourced remote IT management services growth. This has been an area of interest to me of late and NetEnrich seems, after one conversation, to be doing it right. More to come on this topic as I continue to look at managed services to supplement our current storage-related offerings to our existing clients as well as to assist new ones.