NetApp With New FAS2040 for Windows Consolidation and Virtualization Workloads

NetApp, Inc. announced the new FAS2040 storage system, providing customers with increased performance and capacity to handle demanding Microsoft  all on the same system.

NetApp also announced significant price reductions for its FAS2020 systems and associated software, which are now preconfigured with high-capacity drives and include all protocols. These systems provide excellent value for midsize customers while enabling channel partners to sell into a broader customer base.

The FAS2040 joins NetApp’s award-winning entry-level FAS2000 product family. Leveraging NetApp’s unified storage architecture and inherent storage efficiency features, the FAS2040 provides customers with double the performance of any existing FAS2000 storage system and increased storage capacity of up to 30%. This makes it ideal for handling workloads in Microsoft Windows consolidation and virtualized environments.

Starting at $7,920, the updated FAS2020 offers smaller, price-conscious IT organizations a simple, well-integrated solution for enterprise-class functionality at an unprecedented price point. The FAS2020 now also offers multiprotocol support, including CIFS and NFS, for added flexibility at no extra charge. The enhancements make the FAS2020 one of the industry’s best values for the Midsize Enterprise market – and make simple and flexible unified storage a reality for a broader set of customers.

"With the ever-increasing amount of data in our Windows environment, we needed a more efficient and flexible storage infrastructure," said Bill Schlough, chief information officer for the San Francisco Giants, a NetApp customer. "NetApp’s affordable and flexible FAS2000 system and unified storage architecture were a great fit for the Giants, creating a centralized infrastructure for all of our mission-critical files. NetApp System Manager made setup and management easy. NetApp enabled us to implement a solution that not only meets our needs today but also affordably scales up as our storage requirements grow."

FAS2000 Makes It Easier to Do Business with NetApp
To make the FAS2000 family easier to sell for all partner types, NetApp has reduced the number of FAS2020 SKUs and created a simplified ordering process for the entire FAS2000 series product line. This streamlined approach enables distributors and VARs to increase operational efficiencies and further drive revenue without unnecessary administrative hassles. This straightforward strategy, combined with the FAS2020’s enhanced protocol support, extensive solution set, and appealing price point, provides partners with the ability to sell to a broader set of customers and presents new opportunities for providing added value to those customers. These changes are just the latest enhancements to the NetApp Partner Program, designed to make it easier to do business with NetApp and to provide best-in-class solutions. As validation of this strategy, the FAS2000 series was named by Business Solutions magazine in August as one of the top channel products of the year.

"The NetApp FAS2020 has provided us with a storage system that truly meets the needs of our customers with smaller IT organizations," said Sandy Davis, president of Applied Computer Solutions. "With the latest improvements to the FAS2020, both from a price, product, and ordering perspective, we expect to see accelerated sales. Overall, these enhancements show NetApp’s continued commitment to its partners and only strengthen NetApp’s position as a leader in the channel."

"Today’s announcement continues to build upon NetApp’s award-winning FAS2000 product line to provide midsize customers with proven storage solutions that not only provide great value but also a feature set that addresses the key requirements for Microsoft Windows consolidation and virtualization workloads," said Julie Parrish, vice president of Global Channel Sales, NetApp. "Also, the simplified ordering process and reduced price point for the FAS2020 offer our channel partners, who play such a critical role in NetApp’s success, a more competitive and compelling product to sell to their customers."

As further testament to NetApp’s ability to handle Microsoft environment workloads, NetApp earlier this year was named Microsoft 2009 Storage Solutions Partner of the year.

Pricing and Availability
Customer pricing for the FAS2000 series starts at $7,920 and is subject to change without prior notice. The FAS2020 and FAS2040 are available immediately.