Sun Withdraws from IBM-led Open Source Advocacy Group

WebKnowHow
Friday, June 23, 2006; 02:47 AM

Sun Microsystems, Inc. announced that it has withdrawn from the Aperi open source storage management initiative started by IBM in October 2005. Sun stated that it is a proponent of open source projects across its portfolio and has been a major supporter of this initiative in its formative phases. Sun plans to participate in software projects under the auspices of the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA).

"The SNIA is the recognized industry association that end users look to for guidance on the technologies and software solutions they should implement in their storage environments," said Adam Mendoza, director of storage industry initiatives, Sun Microsystems, Inc. "Sun recognizes that end users will want the SNIA to endorse any open source solutions delivered by the storage community. By engaging with the SNIA upfront, we are assured that a collaborative effort will take end-user requirements into account and that the storage community will adapt SNIA-endorsed open source storage management solutions."

Sun stated it believes the storage industry requires a concerted and standards-based effort that can only be achieved through a governance model provided by the SNIA. As such, Sun has been instrumental in aggressively advocating needed changes to the SNIA's core governance model and associated documentation. Along with other industry leaders, Sun has successfully positioned this with the SNIA board and membership. The efforts to ratify these changes are continuing, and Sun stated it is very confident that the SNIA will finalize these updates shortly to facilitate collaborative software development projects within the SNIA.