Arrow Electronics Opens First Multivendor Storage Lab
Arrow Electronics
The Universal Enterprise Storage Lab will be run by Arrow's Enterprise Storage Solutions unit and includes resources from almost 20 manufacturers to replicate end-user environments. The lab cost about $10 million to create, which includes equipment costs, space and labor. Arrow shared the expense with vendor partners and plans to charge solution providers for the lab's use. Fees depend on the amount of time, space and equipment used and could cost up to $10,000 per day, said executives.
Solarcom, a Norcross, Ga.-based solution provider, is scheduled to be the first customer to book the lab next week, said Ed Gogol, director of enterprise systems at Solarcom.
"It's something we have a need for, but I would rather not invest that kind of money in something that I may use only one or two days at a time," Gogol said.
Arrow plans to open another storage lab next month in Minneapolis. Others are tentatively planned for the East and West Coasts in undetermined locations.