TheInfoPro (TIP) today announced that for the fourth wave in a row, EMC, HDS, NetApp, 3PAR, and Data Domain top TIP’s "Most Exciting Storage Vendor" list. From a time-series perspective, HDS, NetApp, 3PAR, and Data Domain have all trended up. Meanwhile, companies with extensive storage portfolios that failed to integrate newly acquired or newly developed products lost out, in the Fortune 1000 and the midsize enterprise markets.

The "Most Exciting" list -- which is part of the TIP Wave 10 Storage Study detailing technology adoption trends and timeframes, management techniques, and vendor performance data for the storage industry -- is compiled based on feedback from storage professionals regarding which of the storage vendors and products they consider to be the most exciting.

From a time-series perspective, HDS, NetApp, 3PAR, and Data Domain have all trended up. EMC, though still receiving the most mentions, has trended downward for the fourth consecutive wave. IBM, though receiving more mentions in Wave 10 vs. Wave 9, dropped from being one of the Top 5 most exciting Storage vendors, to being #6 in Wave 10. IBM reverses positions with Data Domain, which is now in the #5 spot. Brocade, previously cited, did not receive any “exciting vendor” mentions in Wave 10.

“Though the vendors that top the list have remained relatively unchanged over the past four waves of TIP's Storage Study, the Time Series Report indicates that companies with extensive storage portfolios that fail to integrate newly acquired or newly developed products lost out to those companies that did integrate best-of-breed / novel products,” said Robert Stevenson, Managing Director of Storage Research.

In order of ranking, the following vendors were included in the Fortune 1000 (F1000) “Most Exciting Storage Vendor” list for Wave 10:

• EMC
• HDS, NetAPP
• 3PAR
• Data Domain
• IBM
• Cisco
• Sun
• F5 Networks
• HP
• Symantec
• Compellent
• XIV Information Systems
• Isilon Systems
• SEPATON
• Riverbed
• Quantum
• NEC
• LSI
• FalconStor
• Diligent Technologies
• COPAN

Among the other organizations that were mentioned as being exciting within F1000 organizations are Autonomy, BlueArc, Caringo, DataDirect Networks, EqualLogic, Incipient, Kazeon, LeftHand Networks, Netezza, Nexsan, Nortel, Onaro, ONStor, SANRAD, Solutions Made Simple, Xiotech, and YottaYotta.

Midsize enterprise market

The dynamic is even more evident within the Midsize Enterprise (MSE) market, where the “Most Exciting Storage Vendor” list was dominated by those companies that introduced novel products into the market. In order of ranking, the MSE list includes:

• EMC
• 3PAR
• HDS
• Compellent
• Data Domain
• NetApp
• Sun
• Pillar Data
• HP
• EqualLogic
• BlueArc
• ONStor
• LSI
• LeftHand Networks
• IBM
• DataCore
• Brocade

“MSE organizations don’t have as large a storage capacity to consider, making it easier for them to switch their providers. In addition, the lack of legacy systems within these organizations allows them to get new technologies into production much sooner than would be possible for F1000 organizations,” says Stevenson.

About this study

Over 250 F1000 and MSE end users were interviewed for the TheInfoPro's Wave 10 Storage Study, providing commentary and insight on their Storage adoption plans, management strategies, and vendor performance. View a free rich media summary at the link below. Registration required.

Storage Technology providers that were mentioned throughout the study include: 3PAR, Adaptec, Anue Systems, Arkivio, Asempra, Attachmate, Autonomy, BakBone, Blue Coat, Broadcom, Brocade, CA, Ciena, Cisco, ClearPoint Metrics, CommVault, COPAN, DataDirect, Networks, Data Domain, Dell, Diligent Technologies, Double-Take, Egenera, EMC, Emulex, EqualLogic, FalconStor, Finisar, Force10 Networks, Fujitsu Siemens, HDS, HP, IBM, IBRIX, Incipient, InMage, Isilon Systems, Juniper, LeftHand Networks, LSI, Microsoft, MSI Computer, NetApp, NEC, Nexsan, Nortel, Onaro, ONStor, Oracle, Packeteer, PlateSpin, QLogic, Quantum, Quest Software, Rackable Systems, Red Hat, Riverbed, Seagate, SEPATON, Signiant, Silver Peak, Spectra Logic, Sun, Symantec, Virtual Iron, Voltaire, Winchester Systems, Yotta Yotta. Midsize.

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