Wecommit

This document describes the We-Commit on storage interoperability offer. This offer is valid for storage infrastructure solutions and covers all software and hardware components that build up the infrastructure. This documented is presented in the form of a FAQ ( Frequently Asked Question).

"We-Commit" is a new way for Bull to deliver you systems for a range of industry-leading applications in which Bull commits, in unambiguous and contractually-binding terms, to the performance, availability, flexibility and interoperability of the solution that you buy.

The rest of this FAQ concentrates on one of these commitments, We-Commit on storage interoperability, where Bull commits that the storage solution selected by your company is fully interoperable, with your production rules (components connection, back-up/restore features, mirroring..)

If the set level of interoperability is not achieved Bull will provide, free of charge, required services, within the terms of the contract, until interoperability level is achieved.

Bull long experience in storage solutions, shows that in every storage project, components interoperability is the number one issue. Interoperability, as defined by Bull, covers the following domains:

• interoperability of hardware components,

• management of hardware components,

• storage services integration,

• software integration (back-up, HSM, SRM…)

• storage infrastructure production

The Bull commitment provides you with the assurance that all features within these domains work smoothly, in your own environment, using your own production rules.

Because it is the one way to eliminate the major risk encountered in your storage project, whether building a new solution or up-grading an existing one. You, at last, master all integration issues, while keeping the freedom of choice for selecting the different components of your infrastructure and avoiding incompatibility problems.

No. Many of our competitors run interoperability tests in their labs, for products certification purposes wether in their proprietary environment or with selected partners products. But these tests are obviously limited(one cannot cover all possible configurations) and they do not match the field experience, as encountered by your company. These basic services, even though certified, are NOT a contractual interoperability commitment.

In your own production world, these certifications are not enough and Bull offer is unique in taking into consideration your production environment for integration purpose.

Only Bull proposes an industrialised, valid in customer production environment, that allows for interoperability in a fully open world (covering all major suppliers).

First Bull has created technical partnerships with market leaders on hardware and software for storage solutions (EMC, StorageTek, HDS, Legato, Veritas, Brocade, Vixel…). Technical and commercial links enable Bull to maintain in its competence centers the expertise required for anticipating compatibility issues inheterogeneous environment and solving problems when they happen. These links also enable Bull to forward quickly and effectively all qualified problems for correction or modification purpose when needed.

Second, Bull has created competence specialised in storage infrastructure, that have acquired a true expertise in sizing, architecturing and building storage solutions in heterogeneous environment. Supported by this expertise, competence centers are now ready to commit on the interoperability of your storage infrastructure.

Last, Bull applies a rigourous methodology to ensure that the entire process is controlled from end-to-end :

• initial analysis of existing components,

• specification of production rules with company

• specification of interoperability measures in production environment

• interoperability verification. If necessary, Bull provides services, within contractual terms, free of charge, until interoperability verification is passed.

All We-commit on storage interoperability projects are controlled by competence centres which assures you access to best-of-class expertise in the storage area.

As of today, Bull commits, after customer environment audit, on storage infrastructure based upon hardware and software from Bull, EMC, HDS, StorageTek, Veritas, Legato, Brocade, Vixel, Tivoli(TSM), IBM, AIX, Linux, Solaris, HP-UX and Windows.

This list in bound to evolve, depending on acquired expertise by competence centres.

There are three level of commitment : Basic, Comfort and Limousine:

We commit Basic

for entirely new storage solutions, based on Bull products.

We commit Comfort

for extension of existing storage solutions, based on Bull products. Thanks to this commitment, incompatibility risks due to new links on aging hardware or software are simply reduced to ZERO.

We commit Limousine

for extension of existing storage solutions, or for entirely new solutions, based on multi-vendors products. Thanks to this commitment, incompatibility risks due to heterogeneous connectivity, whether hardware or software, is reduced to ZERO.

Whatever the level , Basic, Comfort or Limousine, Bull commits on the storage solution interoperability in customer environment, your own environment. It means the results match your needs 100%.

Whatever the level, Basic, Comfort or Limousine Bull specifies, with you, your production needs, your production rules and the relevant interoperability verification conditions. These specification are the basis of Bull commitment.

Whatever the level, Basic, Comfort or Limousine, Bull verifies, before production phase, that interoperability conforms to the specifications. If the defined level of interoperability is not achieved, Bull provides, within contractual terms, free of charge, necessary services to achieve interoperability as specified.

In the event of a We commit Comfort or Limousine, the we commit methodology advises a set of pre-production services to define with the customer, by way of prototypes and interoperability tests, a storage infrastructure that will match customer interoperability criteria and will be the basis for Bull commitment.

You must, at the beginning of the we commit project :

• specify existing components

• justify of a valid maintenance/support contract for every component

• apply, following Bull recommendations, updates and upgrades ( on firmware and software).

• spécify production process (back-up, replication, development environment, de tests environment, production environment)

You and Bull must also agree, at the beginning of the We commit project, upon :

• The definition of the storage infrastructure (architecture, hardware and software components)

• The interoperability criteria and required services to implement the defined storage solution. One of these services, interoperability verification, is mandatory for all we commit contract .

• The definition of not-exchangeable elements, meaning those elements hardware and software that will not be exchangeable, should an interoperability issue come up, that could be solved by changing one element of the infrastructure.

Working with Bull, customers enjoy the benefits of a well defined approach to storage that provide them with clear commitments from Bull:

Bull commits on providing a storage infrastructure that will meet customers expectations as described in the contractual proposal.

Bull commits on demonstrating, through relevant tests, the interoperability of the delivered storage infrastructure. Those tests will be defined jointly as part of the we-commit project, and a test plan will be included as an appendix to the contractual proposal. The test plan will explain and justify the selected success criteria and the tests means and processes.

In addition, Bull commits upon providing, if interoperability is not conformant to success criteria, necessary services, within contractual terms, free of charge, to achieve interoperability.( third party management for qualification and correction of problems in third party components, included). Should an element of the storage architecture be replaced for interoperability purpose, if agreed upon by customer, Bull commits upon delivering the exchange element free of charge, within contractual terms.

Want to know more? Contact us!