NetApp has refreshed its software portfolio with new releases that introduce tighter VMware integration and nondisruptive migration of data for virtual machines, among other features.

The storage vendor extended its Clustered Data ONTAP operating system with support for vCloud Suite 5.5, the latest version of VMware’s cloud management and monitoring platform. The integration aims to simplify large-scale migrations and give users the freedom to deploy the storage platforms of their choice.

The ONTAP update is joined by Virtual Storage Console 5.0 (VSC 5.0,) the newest edition of NetApp’s vSphere management solution. VSC 5.0 includes integration with the VMware vSphere Web Client and policy-based management via vStorage APIs for Storage Awareness (VASA.) The company says that the latter feature adds automation and real-time visibility into system health.

The third addition to NetApp’s software line is Flash Accel 1.2. The flash caching software now supports vSphere 5.1 and core features such as vMotion, Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS) and High-Availability.

Sanjay Katyal, the vice president of global alliances and OEMS at VMware, commented that “VMware and NetApp are executing on a shared vision of empowering organizations to realize the benefits of the software-defined data center. This partnership enables our joint customers to increase the agility of their IT infrastructure, increase operational efficiency and reduce infrastructure costs. Our goal is to transform the way IT is delivered through products and solutions such as NetApp’s clustered Data ONTAP with VMware vCloud® Suite and VMware Horizon Suite™ that provides automation, flexibility and efficiency.”

Making the software-defined data center a reality is a top priority for both VMware and NetApp. Kristina Brand and Lisa Crewe stopped by the Wikibon headquarters recently to discuss how the storage vendor’s OnCommand product family is easing customers’ transition into the software-led era.