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Ken_Cline
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HP Acquires LeftHand Networks

So...is this a good thing, or a bad thing?

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HP Acquires LeftHand Networks to Extend Leadership in Storage and Virtualization Solutions

Last update: 8:11 a.m. EDT Oct. 1, 2008

PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct 01, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- HP (HPQ:

HPQ 45.24, -1.00, -2.2%) today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire LeftHand Networks Inc., a leading provider of storage virtualization and iSCSI storage area network (SAN) solutions.

LeftHand Networks' solutions enable midsize companies and remote offices or branches of large corporations to easily and cost-effectively protect critical business data. HP has agreed to purchase LeftHand Networks for $360 million in cash, subject to certain purchase price adjustments.

Founded in 1999, LeftHand Networks is privately held and headquartered in Boulder, Colo. It has 215 employees and more than 500 resellers and distributors worldwide. The company has more than 11,000 installations across 3,000 different customers.

Ken Cline

Technical Director, Virtualization

Wells Landers

TVAR Solutions, A Wells Landers Group Company

VMware Communities User Moderator

Ken Cline VMware vExpert 2009 VMware Communities User Moderator Blogging at: http://KensVirtualReality.wordpress.com/
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15 Replies
mikepodoherty
Expert
Expert

Probably an indication that storage virtualization will be the next big area of competition. IBM last year purchased a storage virtualization vendor and just released the rebranded product. I expect DELL will be in the market for a storage virtualization vendor.

Mike

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azn2kew
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I'm curious if Dell going to snatch DataCore as well to make it even competition! These would be good for IT industries since HP has large financial backups for innovation and growth but the price and licensing piece might change a little. Hope the product still as good as it is and I'm sure 80% of all existing Lefthand's employees are still employing under HP umbrella.

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Stefan Nguyen

iGeek Systems Inc.

VMware, Citrix, Microsoft Consultant

If you found this information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful". Thanks!!! Regards, Stefan Nguyen VMware vExpert 2009 iGeek Systems Inc. VMware vExpert, VCP 3 & 4, VSP, VTSP, CCA, CCEA, CCNA, MCSA, EMCSE, EMCISA
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sbeaver
Leadership
Leadership

Dell already bought one... EqualLogic for $1.4 billion

Steve Beaver

VMware Communities User Moderator

====

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(ISBN:1420070274) from Auerbach

*Virtualization is a journey, not a project.*

Steve Beaver
VMware Communities User Moderator
VMware vExpert 2009 - 2020
VMware NSX vExpert - 2019 - 2020
====
Co-Author of "VMware ESX Essentials in the Virtual Data Center"
(ISBN:1420070274) from Auerbach
Come check out my blog: [www.virtualizationpractice.com/blog|http://www.virtualizationpractice.com/blog/]
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**The Cloud is a journey, not a project.**
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azn2kew
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Yes, that's huge purchase but no virtualization storage though DataCore SANmelody might be good piece for someone else!

If you found this information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful". Thanks!!!

Regards,

Stefan Nguyen

iGeek Systems Inc.

VMware, Citrix, Microsoft Consultant

If you found this information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful". Thanks!!! Regards, Stefan Nguyen VMware vExpert 2009 iGeek Systems Inc. VMware vExpert, VCP 3 & 4, VSP, VTSP, CCA, CCEA, CCNA, MCSA, EMCSE, EMCISA
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daniel_uk
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

This is expected, Lefthand never had enough to jump the bar like others have. It's a shame as I hoped they could go alone and start competing big time with Netapp.

So....HP has bigger market share of storage than DELL and HP customers will now have lefthand technology with a HP badge and backing on great product teams, great news for DELL hey Smiley Happy

Dan

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Marke50
Contributor
Contributor

I was under the impression that Lefthand was getting out of the hardware business since the managment does the magic.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out

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Kevin_Gao
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

I just talked to someone @ lefthand and they told me "business as usual".

Anyways we're running HP based hardware (NSM 2120's from LeftHand) so we should be good to go...in theory. Smiley Happy

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williambishop
Expert
Expert

I just talked to someone @ lefthand and they told me "business as usual".

That's what they said at neoware after the acquisition as well. Guess who's out of work now?

W

--"Non Temetis Messor."
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Kevin_Gao
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

I personally like LeftHand as a company...they're small and react fast when I want to talk to someone. Let's face it if a different person is in my position they would probably only care for one thing; "who to call when there's an issue with the SAN and can they help me with it?" That's the brutal honest truth right? I'm sure HP won't be as personable as LeftHand but the business continues on.

Regarding Neoware - HP sells / supports their thin clients and that's probably all the customers care about anyways. Now if HP's services starts falling down rapidly then it's a different matter. Smiley Happy

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williambishop
Expert
Expert

"Regarding Neoware - HP sells / supports their thin clients and that's probably all the customers care about anyways. Now if HP's services starts falling down rapidly then it's a different matter. :)"

It did, they did, and now we're a wyse shop.

--"Non Temetis Messor."
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Kevin_Gao
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

Not to hijack this thread or anything...well what the hey I'm shamelessly going for it Smiley Happy

Does Wyse have any clients that support VDI? We're looking into VDI at the moment but HP only seems to list 2 models that support VDI. Thanks!

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williambishop
Expert
Expert

I'm pretty sure they(wyse) were the first to support it. Give them a call, or if you tell me what area you're in I'll ask one of my buddies.

HP discontinued our product line pretty much immediately, and got rid of all of my technical assets. I used to get immediate support, after they took over I did good if I got a return on a call within a month. No thanks.

--"Non Temetis Messor."
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Kevin_Gao
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

I'm in Vancouver, Canada.

Looking @ they seem to have a ton of options. I'll have to look into them a bit more. Thanks for the info!

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Marke50
Contributor
Contributor

Can you take me out of this list please?

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Kevin_Gao
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

On the top right under "Actions", click on "Stop receiving notification".

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