Cisco and NetApp Accelerates FlexPod Momentum

Cisco Systems, Inc. and NetApp, Inc. announced the launch of a global
channel initiative to accelerate the market momentum of the FlexPod
converged infrastructure solution.

The FlexPod Premium Partner Framework will reward elite FlexPod channel
partners for investing in sales capabilities and services
practices.

The companies also announced that more than 1,000 customers have
deployed the FlexPod solution since it was launched in November 2010. The
FlexPod series combines computing, networking and storage solutions from Cisco
and NetApp. Nearly 100%
of FlexPod solutions are sold through Cisco-NetApp channel partners.

Highlights:

The objective of the FlexPod Premium Partner Framework is to
recognize and reward partners who have invested in developing FlexPod solution
competencies.

Built on feedback from the global channel community, the framework
is designed to deliver increased differentiation, streamline multi-vendor
interactions, and enhance profitability.

Benefits that help differentiate channel partners include:

• Use of unique branding that can be leveraged in marketing and
  communications
• Special listings in NetApp and Cisco partner locator tools
• Differentiated marketing and communications support

Benefits to enable channel partners sales
and technical solutions
capabilities include:

• Access to a FlexPod help
  desk that assists post-sales engineers in the plan, design and implementation
  of a production FlexPod stack
• Priority access to lab resources for technical training,
  demonstrations, and proof-of-concept efforts
• Joint learning maps from Cisco and NetApp for sales, pre-sales and
  post-sales personnel

Benefits to drive partner growth include:

• Access to Cisco Collaborative Professional Services and the FlexPod
  Technical Consulting Accelerator offers partners tools, templates, validated
  designs, leading practices, and business and technology methodologies, all
  designed to help partners enhance their practices
• Enhanced focus and support for demand generation campaigns related
  to the solution

There are currently 22 FlexPod Premium Partners that have qualified
for the initiative, including seven partners across North America and 15 in
Europe.

Cisco and NetApp have collaborated to produce more than 20 Cisco
Validated Designs; supporting hypervisors from VMware, Red Hat, Microsoft and
Citrix.

Peter Howard, senior director, Data Center Alliances, NetApp, said: "Our partners play a critical, consultative
role helping customers understand and achieve the financial and operational
benefits of moving from inefficient infrastructure silos to converged,
virtualized environments built on FlexPod. The FlexPod Premium Partner
Framework reflects Cisco’s and NetApp’s commitment to recognizing partners who
have achieved the highest levels of sales, technical, and professional services
capability. It builds upon our consistent and shared vision to accelerate
customer success through strong, profitable channel partners."

Brian Allison, director, Data Center Go-To-Market Solutions, Cisco,
said: "Cisco and NetApp have heard
from many of our joint channel partners that they want us to reduce complexity
and streamline multi-vendor interactions, all while continuing to drive
profitability. Through the FlexPod Premium Partner initiative we’re rewarding
partners for investing in elite sales, technical and services capabilities
necessary to capture the rapidly growing market for converged infrastructure
solutions."

Paul Lidsky, president and CEO, Datalink, FlexPod Premium Partner,
said: "FlexPod continues to play a
foundational role in the future of data centers and private cloud environments.
For that reason, it is a linchpin of the converged infrastructure consulting,
analysis, design, deployment and support services that we offer to midmarket
and enterprise customers. We are the first channel partner to achieve the
requirements of the FlexPod Premium Partner Framework because we have been
training our engineers in cross-discipline architectures since the inception of
FlexPod and have completed dozens of deployments. This new designation from
Cisco and NetApp will help organizations identify the most qualified providers
to ensure successful implementations that transform their data centers."