Data Domain-besotted EMC dumps Quantum

Not the girl for me, even after lending her $100m

By Chris Mellor • Get more from this author

Posted in Storage, 12th November 2009 16:06 GMT

Free whitepaper – Selecting an Industry-Standard Metric for Data Center Efficiency

EMC, flushed and happy with Data Domain, has dumped its Quantum-based Disk Library products, just like that.

It has axed its Disk Library 3D 1500 and DL3000 products and no new sales will be made. The products were removed from EMC's Direct Express and Channel Express facilities on Monday.

EMC first licensed Quantum's DXi-based deduplication products in May, 2008. It did a reselling deal with Dell and big things were hoped for by Quantum, which was then still struggling in the face of revenue declines from legacy tape products and debts from its ADIC acquisition.

Things went fairly well, with EMC giving Quantum an up to $100m loan in March this year to help it continue product developments. At the time Quantum's president and CEO Rick Belluzzo said: "[this] further reinforces the strength of the Quantum-EMC partnership and the work we've been doing together to bring the benefits of data deduplication to customers. Despite the significant improvements in operational performance Quantum has made over the past year, our capital structure has clearly been a hindrance in the current economic environment."

The strength of that partnership was put to the test when NetApp tried to buy Data Domain - a Quantum DXi competitor and the dedupe market leader - in May. Joe Tucci - EMC's Chairman, President and CEO - saw his chance and pounced. Ever since Data Domain CEO Frank Slootman came into EMC with his company an EMC-Quantum divorce has been pending. Now it's happened.

Existing customers may be able to get capacity upgrades from EMC. Alternatively they can go to Quantum who should receive them with open arms and a much-improved DXi product range. ®

Free whitepaper – Fundamental Principles of Air Conditioners for Information Technology