DataSynapse Releases FabricServer 2.5
FabricServer from DataSynapse has been a product that I've been watching for a number of years. I've spoken with a number of DataSynapse's customers and have heard nothing but positive comments about what it does and how it has helped organizations move towards their goals. It appears that the good folks at DataSynapse have taken what could be viewed as an already strong application virtualization product and have improved it.
DataSynapse Goals for FabricServer 2.5
When I spoke with representatives of the company, they explained that what they were trying to do with this release could be summed up in three statements. Here's basically what thye had to say:- Innovative software that dynamically allocates computing resources to enterprise applications based on business demands and policies
- An automated approach to configuring, activating, and scaling enterprise applications across heterogeneous IT environments
- Proven technology to help our customers create real-time IT environments today ….. and a methodology designed for incremental adoption
Although I'm not completely sold on the phrase "real-time IT environments", I understand what the company is trying to do. They're trying to help organizations make the best use of their IT assets using automation.
Snapshot analysis
- Strengths - DataSynapse has long been known for its ability to bring grid computing techniques and techology to the corporate datacenter. Both GridServer and FabricServer do this, each at its own layer in the software stack. The company has proven that developers don't also have to be rocket scientists or academicians to make use of multi-machine configurations to increase overall performance, scalability and/or availability of important applications. The company can offer many examples of organizations of many different sizes and that operate in many different markets that have gotten benefit from DataSynapse's technology.
- Weaknesses - In a "buzz word rich environment", it is hard for DataSynapse to get across what they're doing. Although the majority of what DataSynapse offers fits into the two categories of application virtualization and management of virtualized resources, their press releases and presentations read like those offered by 30 or 40 other companies.
- Opportunities - It is clear that virtualization technology on industry standard systems has captured the attention of most IT decision-makers. It is also clear that the overall adoption of this technology is relatively small when compared to the available market. This means that any company that can successfully turn non-believers into believers can be very successful. This, of course, takes more than good technology. It takes innovative sales and marketing approaches as well.
- Threats - over the past year, the Kusnetzky Group has spoken with executives of over 100 different companies who are offering virtualization technology of some sort. DataSynapse must distinguish itself and its offerings from this dynamic and growing group to win new business.
I've been impressed with DataSynapse (both its people and its products) for quite some time. While the products are not the perfect solution to every problem, they are powerful tools that could help many organizations.