Scale Computing promises SMBs a low cost way into virtualisation

Scale-out storage vendor Scale Computing claims its new HC[sup]3[/sup] product bundle will offer SMBs and mid-market firms a lower cost route into virtualisation.

The converged product bundle combines Scale's shared storage product, with a server and Red Hat's virtualisation software and is available in the UK from today.

Speaking to IT Pro, Patrick Conte, executive vice president and general manager of worldwide field operations at Scale, said the product uses shared storage to ensure users' applications are available when they need them.

"The only way cost effective way for a mid-market company to do that is through virtualisation," said Conte.

We're offering the equivalent functionality, but with added simplicity and at a much lower cost.

He also claimed the cost of acquiring HC[sup]3[/sup] works out cheaper than buying all the required hardware from name brand vendors.

"We're offering the equivalent functionality, but with added simplicity and it also just happens to be a lot less expensive," he claimed.

"You could buy a server from HP, Dell or IBM, some shared storage, the switching technology and then the virtualisation software, probably from VMware, and it is probably going to cost twice as much as buying a [similar set up] from Scale."

The company cites local government, healthcare, education, and manufacturing as key industry verticals for its products, and over the past several years claims to have shipped up to 6,000 storage appliances.

Jason Collier, chief technology officer at Scale, told IT Pro that HC[sup]3[/sup] should also appeal to SMBs that had shied away from virtualisation because of complexity concerns.

"The fear and complexity is a big thing. If you're going to deploy a [multi-vendor] solution, you need to know a lot of stuff and [many smaller firms] do not have the resources needed to commit to that," he said.

"Giving them a solution that has all of the performance and functionality without needing to have any specific knowledge is a tremendous benefit to them."