Cisco Buys Into NAS Virtualization With NeoPath Deal

Cisco Systems signed a deal this week to buy storage vendor NeoPath Networks, best known for its network-attached storage virtualization technology.

NeoPath's File Director NAS systems create a virtual environment that lets storage servers pool resources. In addition to delivering consolidation services--which can help businesses lower their hardware costs--NeoPath's in-band virtualization systems also provide replication, which companies can use as part of a disaster recovery strategy.The NeoPath acquisition will help Cisco fill out its SONA (Service-Oriented Network Architecture) product line by giving the vendor the technology it needs to round out its existing file-based solutions, including its WAAS (Wide Area Application Services), and future technologies that will provide advanced file services, Cisco said.

Cisco says it expects the acquisition of the 55-employee company to close at the end of April.