IBM, Cisco form open-source storage group

More than a half-dozen tech titans, including IBM, Cisco Systems and Network Appliance, announced plans Tuesday to form an organization to develop open-source storage management software.

The group, dubbed Aperi, also will include Brocade Communication Systems, Computer Associates International, Engenio Information Technologies, Fujitsu, McData and Sun Microsystems.

"Today's news is significant," said Jim Stallings, IBM vice president of intellectual property and standards. "This is a breakthrough on how traditional storage is done...we're building it on an open-source platform."

IBM will donate a portion of its storage management technology to Aperi; other organization members have the option to do the same. The open-source storage code will be designed to remove the barriers that occur when running computers that have different platforms, Stallings said.

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