New HP Storage Software Chief Promises More Integration

Frank Harbist, vice president and general manager for HP's Storage Software division, part of the Network Storage Solutions group, moved to the position just two weeks ago following the July 15 departure Mark Sorenson, who left HP to join EMC.

Harbist, in his first meeting with the press since taking over Storage Software, told CRN at HP World in Atlanta that, while he is still working on the message he will bring to the market, he inherited an organization that already is executing successfully.

"A lot of things were headed in the right direction," said Harbist. "I'll bring enabling to the mix. My strength is in partnering--both internally and externally--with technology and channel partners."

HP's storage software business has the building blocks needed to make an integrated offering in line with the company's Adaptive Enterprise vision of utility computing, Harbist said. These blocks include the OpenView SAM (Storage Area Manager) suite, as well as the company's virtualization products such as the CASA (Continuous Access Storage Appliance) appliance and the relationship with Brocade.

"You will see more seamless functionality across the SAN to make storage more simple," he said. "Not software for the sake of software. It's how to make storage simple to scale, simple to operate."

In the past two weeks, Harbist said he has come to understand the value of such relationships and partners. For instance, he said the company's OpenView and services organizations are really important partners moving forward. "We've done a pretty good job of making OpenView and OpenView SAM work together," he said. "But under that relationship, more enhancements in terms of the umbrella of functions customers can access are needed."