IBM, NetApp announce tie-up

IBM and Network Appliance (NetApp) have announced a strategic storage
relationship to drive information on demand solutions and to expand IBM's
portfolio of storage solutions. As part of the relationship, IBM and NetApp will
enter into an original equipment manufac-turing (OEM) agreement that will enable
IBM to sell IBM branded solutions based on NetApp unified and open network
attached storage (NAS) and iSCSI/IP SAN solutions, including NearStore and the
NetApp V-Series Systems, as well as associated software offerings.

According to IDC, NetApp was the revenue share leader in both NAS and iSCSI
for calendar year 2004. Under this agreement, IBM will reach into more countries
than any other OEM reseller for NetApp.

The agreement also pro-motes enhanced integration of NetApp applications with
IBM Tivoli Storage Manager, aimed at delivering additional customer value. In
addition, with NetApp customers inc-reasingly seeking a complete tiered storage
solution, NetApp will position IBM as its preferred supplier of tape systems in
its solutions for NetApp customers.

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