Odd couple put differences aside for ExpressPod push

Distributors Comstor and Arrow ECS team up to take Cisco and NetApp's new "mini-FlexPods" to UK resellers

In a rare instance of co-operation between two major distributors, Comstor and Arrow ECS have linked arms to take Cisco and NetApp's new ExpressPod datacentre architecture out to resellers.

Launched last month, ExpressPod is Cisco and NetApp's attempt to replicate the success they have seen with their FlexPod architecture lower down the market.

Between them, Cisco distributor Comstor and NetApp distributor Arrow ECS have bagged exclusive UK distribution rights for the "mini-FlexPods", which integrate UCS C-Series servers and Nexus 3048 switches from Cisco with NetApp's FAS2220 or FAS2240 storage arrays.

All sales will be transacted through Arrow ECS but Comstor will build and ship the products.

Talking to ChannelWeb, Russell Blackburn, datacentre director EMEA at Comstor, admitted the duo make an odd couple.

"It is unusual in this very competitive world of distribution – and probably goes against the grain – but we don't compete on any products," he said. "There is some overlap in our customers but the key thing is the transaction is through Arrow, which makes it nice and clean."

Arrow ECS will bag the NetApp revenues, leaving Comstor with the Cisco portion of the deal.

Blackburn predicted that 100-150 UK resellers would immediately run with the ExpressPod, which is available in bundles aimed at firms with either 50 or 100 staff.

"The FlexPod pipeline is building significantly but we expect the ExpressPod to go to a broader market as no accreditations are required by resellers to access this product," he said.

"Many ExpressPod customers will build it out to become a FlexPod. You can scale up and down and, unlike with other solutions, there are no requirements to change the management."