Data center automation specialist Opsware, which was recently acquired by HP for $1.6 billion, has finally added storage to its management software, unveiling its Application Storage Automation System (ASAS) today.
Opsware got its hands on the core technology behind ASAS when it acquired storage software vendor Creekpath for about $10 million just over a year ago. "We have leveraged their storage plumbing," says Jason Rosenthal, senior vice president of the vendor's server automation products division, adding that Creekpath's code lets Opsware get a view of HBAs, switch fabrics, and storage arrays.
"We can do compliance checks across the whole application stack -- servers, network, and storage," explains the exec. "For example, 'Is my multipath load balancing in compliance with my stated best practice [and] is my replication functioning properly?'"
Rosenthal says that ASAS, which will be available at an unspecified time within the next couple of months, can 'discover' any storage device from any vendor, which can then be used to produce reports on how a given storage infrastructure is configured and used.
"The benefit of this is that IT organizations can 'charge-back' different business units based on storage consumption," he explains.
