Business case exploring opportunities for configuration management software for data storage systems; NetApp

Abstract

There has been an explosive growth in the amount of data that needs to be collected and maintained across various industries. This has made the role data storage companies much more important than it had ever been. Along with robust systems, which can handle this huge amount of data and information, has emerged a need to provide software which can manage these huge data storage systems in an integrated and simplified manner. NetApp features second in the list of manufacturers and providers of data storage systems and related software. The unmatched quality of products and commitment to make life simpler of administrators has propelled the company in the preferred list of vendors. The suite of management products offered by company enables the customers to configure provision and monitor NetApp as well as supported thirdparty devices. The configuration of storage systems is aided by various configuration management tools provided by different vendors. Customers can apply company-specific policies and best practices through these tools. But the questions which need to be asked are whether the existing tools satisfy the requirements of the customers? Are there different tools offered for the same purpose which creates confusion in the minds of consumers? These are a few questions, the answers for which are to be explored in this project. But before delving further into these questions its expedient to understand what constitutes the storage management market and how the storage configuration management fits into this vast domain