Companies around the world choose NetApp filers for storage arrays and infrastructure data storage. Since NetApp is primarily a manufacturer and offers support and maintenance for their products, they are typically more interested in selling you new hardware versus maintaining older hardware. Thus, they are continually...

As we come to the end of this book, let’s review what we’ve learned. You cannot avoid the central issue or push/pull that is part of every IT executive and procurement professional’s world. Money or cost is a constraint that always inhibits the paradise view of...

Another critical issue is the availability of software, OS, patches, updates, firmware, and microcode. TPMs cannot provide these updates, only the OEM can license the code. But you should check with your OEMs licensing agreement as they do vary. If a TPM states they have...

So, now the question becomes how to factor in SLAs. After all, aren’t they really the essence of the maintenance agreement? The real issues that should be addressed in your SLAs include what service standards, equipment functions, and time to repair are maintained. Why else...