Storage software maker Veritas has announced the release of
Linux-compatible versions of its NAS (network attached storage) and
clustering software and outlined a roadmap of its planned
development projects during the next year.
"Linux is clearly a tier-one operating system. We treat it
equivalent to the other platforms we deal with," Mark Bregman,
Veritas' executive vice-president of product operations,
said.
Veritas has released Linux editions of its Veritas Cluster Server
and Veritas ServPoint NAS software for running NAS file servers,
now available for Red Hat's Advanced Server Linux operating system.
Two other Veritas products, the Veritas Foundation Suite and
Veritas NetBackup, were already available for Red Hat's OS.
Veritas clustering and storage management software for Oracle9i
Real Application Clusters on Linux is scheduled for a 2003 release,
and evaluation projects bringing Veritas' software to IBM's zSeries
mainframes are underway with several large enterprise customers,
executives said.
Customer demand is driving Veritas' Linux development, chief
executive Gary Bloom said. Initially used for Web application
deployments and low-end projects, large enterprise customers are
beginning to adopt Linux for critical enterprise infrastructure
such as databases and high-end mainstream applications, he said.
Bloom likened Linux's evolution to that of Sun Microsystems'
Solaris OS.
"Look what Sun represented for our company: a huge revenue
opportunity. We see the opportunity to do the same thing again as
Linux moves across that spectrum," Bloom said.
One industry analyst attending Veritas' event said that the
company's package of Linux products is now the storage software
industry's most complete, surpassing the portfolios of rivals
including EMC and Network Appliance.
Veritas has the opportunity to emerge as the leading storage vendor
for Linux, but it remains to be seen how much revenue that market
segment will generate, Stephen Elliot, research director of storage
management and services for Hurwitz Group, said.
Veritas is expecting gradual, incremental revenue growth from its
Linux offerings, Bloom said. The software's pricing will be
comparable with that of Veritas' Unix software products, he said.
Veritas has also entered into partnerships with several vendors,
including IBM, Red Hat, Intel, Dell Computer and Hewlett-Packard.
Bloom said the alliances would include Linux product development
and distribution deals.