Data migration features highlight new StorMagic solution 5 January, 2008 By Paul Weinberg

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This "hidden gem" in StorMagic's SM Series, stated industry analyst Greg Schulz, separates this storage software startup from the myriad of competitors such as LeftHand Networks and DataCore that are also targeting the same set of SMB customers with similar and simpler SAN based offerings.

The only problem, added Schulz, founder and senior analyst at Storage I/O, is that StorMagic is not doing enough to promote the new data migration feature.

"I don't like how they are positioning it. They are losing a lot of opportunity on the table. They could go in and make some friends very, very fast with VARs and resellers who are selling other products, other [SAN] solutions already but they are struggling with the data migration."

Not surprisingly, Mike Stolz, vice president of marketing for StorMagic, does not agree that they have failed to highlight his new data migration feature in business presentations. But he conceded that Schulz's point that StorMagic could do a better job in talking about it. "That is probably a fair comment."

One hundred per cent channel oriented and a company that just opened its doors in the fall, StorMagic is recruiting about 50 to 100 resellers on a worldwide basis to bundle their hardware with the StorMagic SAN solution for customer employing 50 to 200 people.

"We have developed software that runs on a standard Intel server and we are leveraging channel partners to provide that hardware for the complete solution. The server that the software runs on can be a dedicated thin server [of any brand] or it can also be an integrated appliance like product," stated Stolz.

Furthermore, the new StorMagic SAN solution contains an optional remote management feature that allows end users to outsource this function to resellers.

StorMagic will work with both storage and server VARs and it is targeting three specific vertical markets -- education, government and video.

A typical customer might have run out of server capacity for its data and is then faced with adding another server or embarking upon a networked storage environment that sets up a storage repository to manage all of the data from multiple servers, stated Stolz.

"The challenge for users is how they get the data that they have been developing on that dedicated server which is on direct attached storage to be available on other servers?"

The StorMagic solution contains what it describes as a "non-disruptive" migration feature that allows a user to move data on a server without directed attached storage to the StorMagic SAN system with a few mouse clicks without causing any disruption or required power downtime. Copies of the data can also be maintained in both systems if desired.

"Many of the competitive solutions in this area require the user to power down the server and/or manually migrate the data to the new shared storage environment. The benefit of the StorMagic feature is that the user can leverage the redundancy and reliability features of the SAN for both existing and new data," stated Stolz.

Schulz himself added that StorMagic also opens up storage space for the user that can be utilized for other purposes such as archiving.

StorMagic is led by an executive of storage veterans from such companies as Adaptec, XioTech and Seagate. Stolz himself was formerly involved with Eurologic before it was acquired by Adaptec.

Stolz told eChannelLine the inability of the large storage vendors to meet the needs of IT resources challenged SMBs has created both a vacuum and a market opportunity for other players.

"Nobody is exclusively focused on the SMB and there is a tremendous need to protect their data. It is difficult for SMB to have replication strategies or routine backup schedules that are easy to administer."