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Cisco: IBM-Brocade Deal is Targeting HP
April 29th, 2009 : Rich MillerYesterday we noted IBM’s decision to resell Brocade’s Foundry networking gear, adding that “the move is widely seen as a response to the decision by IBM partner Cisco Systems to enter the blade server market.” Not so, according to Cisco’s Bill Marozas, who says industry pundits have jumped to an erroneous conclusion.
“In reality, it’s an anti-HP strategy,” Marozas writes on Cisco’s Data Center Networks blog. “IBM needed to counter HP’s Data Center strategy and broader DC portfolio offering and Brocade/Foundry gave them what they needed: An OEM deal through which IBM can now resell its own branded ethernet gear vs. ProCurve in accounts. The Cisco-IBM SAN (MDS 9000 Family of products) relationship remains strong.” Information Week agrees that HP is the target, but plenty of othersthink Cisco is in Big Blue’s crosshairs.
Karthik
Posted April 29th, 2009I would tend to agree this comment if IBM/HP makes a bid to buy BRCD before Brocade start shipping network products for IBM.
Too much risk involved for IBM to select Brocade for network products, when Brocade is potential takeover target for several companies in the valley.
If HP really feels the heat, then HP would make a bid to buy BRCD.
Robert
Posted May 1st, 2009I think many long time IBM users remember Cisco buyout of IBM’s Networking Hardware Division’s (NHD) routing and switching business in 1999, effectively rendered Big Blue’s routing and switching gear obsolete as Cisco expressed no interest in incorporating any specific IBM network technology into its lineup.
I guess many of these users never again will buy network gear from IBM.
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