CA bundles storage apps

Officials at Computer Associates International Inc. are trying to upgrade their image in the storage market with a bundled solution that contains many applications that were previously available individually and can now be bought as a tightly integrated package.

Integration for BrightStor r11.1 is achieved using BrightStor Storage Resource Manager (SRM), SAN manager and CA-Vantage SRM, which provide for a common view across distributed and mainframe systems.

It also includes the new BrightStor Process Automation Manage, which allows information technology organizations to automate storage tasks across an enterprise. Computer Associates officials expect that will cut down on problems caused by manual maintenance and help slice labor costs.

BrightStor ARCserve Backup will also allow users to do backup and recover operations across heterogeneous environments. The new solution supports major applications and databases by companies such as Computer Associates, Microsoft Corp., Oracle Corp., PeopleSoft Inc., SAP AG and Sybase Inc.

Computer Associates officials hope the integrated solution will help them better compete against the likes of Veritas Software Corp. and EMC Corp. by providing a better business value for organizations squeezed by growing amounts of data that need to be stored and stagnating budgets.

BrightStor r11.1 is being sold either under Computer Associates' FlexSelect licensing program or a simplified pricing structure based on a per terabyte capacity, which cuts out the need to track server or application-based licenses.

Brian Robinson is a freelance journalist based in Portland, Ore. He can be reached at hullite@mindspring.com.