CORAID Inc., developer of scale-out storage with more than 1,100 customers worldwide, unveiled the CORAID Partner Network, a channel program designed to support business partners delivering CORAID EtherDrive solutions worldwide.

The CORAID Partner Network offers IT solution providers with solutions, training, and support to accelerate sales of next-generation Ethernet SAN solutions into the SMB and enterprise virtualization markets.

CORAID offers its Ethernet SAN solutions that provide enterprises of all sizes with a flexible tier of high-performance, scale-out storage. CORAID's breakthrough EtherDrive storage platform has organically amassed over 1,100 customers, including large enterprise and government organizations, since its 2005 launch into the Linux market. Using innovative software with 100-percent commodity hardware and raw Ethernet, EtherDrive storage arrays enable a scale-out SAN architecture that is ideally suited to dynamic virtualization and cloud environments. Starting at under $500 per terabyte and scaling to multiple petabytes, EtherDrive delivers a 5-8x price-performance advantage over legacy Fibre Channel and iSCSI solutions while eliminating layers of complex SAN management.

The CORAID Partner Network now includes more than 30 partners in North America, Europe, and Asia. These partners have rapidly found success selling CORAID technology due to its simplicity, performance, and price advantages compared to legacy storage technologies. CORAID is actively recruiting a select group of new resellers with a strong focus on virtualization and a consultative sales approach.

"Business partners are key to bringing disruptive technologies like CORAID EtherDrive to market," said Josh Leslie, vice president of channels and business development at CORAID. "We know that our partners are the trusted advisors to IT buyers, and for this reason, we are selling our products 100 percent through the channel."

The CORAID Partner Network offers a set of programs and resources designed to enable, protect and retain key business partners. The current program includes access to sales guides and technical resources, a partner portal partners for access to the latest information and leads, hands-on technical training and certification, lead sharing, co-marketing, and a transparent and simple deal-registration program to protect CORAID partners' investment.

The program currently offers two levels:

• Gold Level: Designed for top business partners around the world that consistently deliver strong sales results and make significant investments in equipment and training, Gold Level partners receive the highest level of discount and marketing benefits.
• Silver Level: Ideal for strong partners that deliver consistent sales results, the Silver Level provides an ideal starting point for partners that are building their Ethernet SAN practice and expertise.

"CORAID has delivered a powerful new generation of storage with unmatched price-performance and a channel program that protects the investments of partners," said John Marciano, COO and director of sales, KIS, a new CORAID partner based in Fremont, California. "KIS has built a very successful virtualization practice, and we believe that the CORAID EtherDrive will help us accelerate adoption and win more deals."