Cisco to up VARs' datacentre nous
Progammes, certifications and products launched to augment partners' datacentre virtualisation expertise
A class apart: Cisco has unveiled new qualifications in datacentre architecture
Cisco is aiming to increase partners datacentre skills with a revamped channel programme, increased rewards and new technical qualifications.
The networking behemoth is extending its Value Incentive Programme (VIP) to include the entirety of its datacentre offering. VIP will now encompass datacentre kit such as unified computing, storage networking and WAN optimisation.
Cisco has also unveiled the Datacentre Channel Solutions Programme, which aims to help VARs sell offerings which incorporate products from vendors including EMC, Microsoft, NetApp, Red Hat and Vmware. Additionally, the vendor's unified computing system (UCS) will now include its new C-Series Rack-Mount Server technology, which will be supported by an Authorised Partner Programme.
Two individual datacentre-based technical qualifications have also been unveiled for staff at partners and customers working in datacentre architecture. The Unified Computing Design Specialist and Support Specialist badges will launch in the next few months.
Edison Peres, senior vice president of Cisco's worldwide channels go-to-market group, said: "Despite the economic downturn, our channel partners share Cisco's vision and excitement around datacentre virtualisation. Together with our partners, we will lead the market transition toward datacentre virtualisation and unified computing."
Senior vice president of the vendor's server and access virtualisation business unit Prem Jain added: "Cisco's comprehensive UCS architecture allows us to easily offer new form factors that respond quickly to our customers' needs. With the UCS C-Series Rack-Mount Servers, we are opening the unified computing opportunity to a broader range of our channel partner community, while providing our customers a migration path to the unified computing approach of the future. "