SAP, EMC & VMware Partner Up for Cloud Platform

November 11, 2011

As cloud computing and virtualization rapidly evolve, SAP is working in a preferred three-way strategic collaboration with partners EMC and VMware to develop tools and services that make it easier for customers to adopt cloud and run SAP systems in next-generation cloud infrastructures with increasing levels of automation. The company is deepening its partnerships with EMC and VMware to deliver even more business agility and scale efficiencies by taking advantage of two key transformational technologies: cloud computing and in-memory technology.

As a next step to extensive and ongoing innovation with partners to unleash the benefits of pervasive virtualization and cloud computing, SAP will work closely with EMC and VMware and is currently evaluating options to deliver an end-to-end stack optimized for running mission-critical SAP applications. Together, the three companies plan to invest and integrate best-of-breed application, database, virtualization, management and information infrastructure technologies, as well as deliver new services to support and accelerate customers' journey to the cloud. Additionally, consulting services and global support offerings from SAP are planned to focus on helping customers accurately assess, design, implement and optimize a virtualization and cloud strategy, with minimal impact on the business.

As a part of this broader engagement, SAP and VMware expect to deliver an extended support program by integrating a configuration and health check for SAP systems running on VMware cloud infrastructure into SAP GoingLive Check services and SAP EarlyWatch Alert service. Customers should gain a better ability to monitor and manage their SAP systems running on the VMware platform.

SAP also intends to drive a radical improvement in the manageability of enterprise applications in private clouds by evaluating the delivery of VMware vSphere-based virtual appliances, orchestrated by declarative models in the TOSCA language recently submitted to OASIS for standardization. SAP, VMware and EMC plan to collaborate to develop new automation and management tools that can interpret and execute the TOSCA models provided by SAP.

SAP and EMC will explore collaboration opportunities around the SAP HANA platform to deliver high-end system availability and EMC's fully automated storage tiering technologies (FAST). This deep collaboration will further strengthen SAP in-memory computing technology to deliver actionable insight into business processes by providing scalability and availability for customers.

"With virtualization now pervasive throughout the enterprise and baseline applications deployed, SAP customers are turning their attention to cloud computing strategies for mission-critical environments," said Pat Gelsinger, president and COO, Information Infrastructure Products, EMC. "EMC, SAP and VMware are working together to accelerate SAP customers' journey to hybrid cloud computing. By integrating technologies and delivering new services we hope to both improve business agility and lower IT costs for our mutual customers."

"Customers are moving rapidly toward full virtualization, a critical step on the journey to the enterprise hybrid cloud," said Paul Maritz, CEO of VMware. "Virtualizing mission-critical production databases and associated applications is a key part of this journey. With a full set of new product optimizations, professional services and joint customer support, we will be providing customers the assistance and confidence they need to virtualize their SAP landscapes -- delivering faster time-to-value, lowering TCO and enabling the highest levels of service and availability to end users."

Taking Management to the Next Level With Virtualization Services

Customer projects and transformation efforts are supported by the comprehensive consulting services portfolio from the SAP Services organization. Services are now available to apply virtualization toward cloud-based models, covering the entire cycle -- from conceptual blueprinting to migration, to the efficient and agile management of virtualized and cloud-based SAP environments. For landscapes virtualized with VMware vSphere, SAP Services currently evaluates options to provide a joint engagement model together with VMware to offer holistic support to customers. Customers may then also be able to benefit from a joint assessment service from SAP and VMware that will identify requirements and options to cost-effectively virtualize their SAP landscapes.

"We are co-innovating with industry leaders in our vast ecosystem to deliver openness and choice to customers, making it much easier for them to adopt cloud technologies," said Dr. Vishal Sikka, member of the SAP Executive Board, Technology & Innovation. "Market observers agree that SAP's next-generation architecture is truly bringing the power of these disruptive innovations to our customers without disruption. Our work with EMC and VMware demonstrates this. It is possible to bring these benefits to our customers while working together with partners in a spirit of openness, trust and co-innovation."