In early December 2019, while making catch up calls to contacts we work with, something unusual happened that I felt was a sign!
Firstly, a client I was having an interesting conversation with, told me about the storage array they had purchased over 5 years ago. He told me how reliable it was and how he had only needed to call support once. He was raving about the storage! I listened, it was interesting, but whilst I was happy for him, it wouldn’t have changed my day.
The following week, while continuing my customer catch up, a different client during a free-flowing conversation, diverted the subject to say they have also been impressed with their new storage appliance. It was so much better than their previous solution and easy to use because they had used the Open Source version whilst at university. I asked what it was that they had chosen and to my surprise, it was a new TrueNAS appliance. My interest was now definitely ‘piqued’!
By the third week, I had been onto the iXsystems website and learned more about the TrueNAS range. If my clients had experienced a solution that they are prepared to recommend without solicitation, that’s a solution I want to take into my wider client base.
It came as no surprise when the third client told me how happy they were with their TrueNAS storage. That was it for me; with what I had learned about iXsystems, ZFS and the relationship between FreeNAS (now known as TrueNAS ‘CORE’ ) and the worldwide TrueNAS user community, we started the process of applying for Partner status.
That seems like a lot longer than 3 years ago, but now, having delivered over 200 appliances, we are just as keen to bring the TrueNAS story to the wider audience.
For those who may not know, TrueNAS is the world’s most deployed storage software. Today it’s available in two open source editions that are free to use. What is more, TrueNAS Enterprise appliances combine Enterprise grade hardware and Enterprise support; resulting in a cost effective storage solution choice, that is gaining traction the world over.
In 2022, Esdebe became an iXsystems ‘TruePartner’, providing services for TrueNAS beyond those available from iXsystems, like Data Recovery and onsite consultancy.
To bring the TrueNAS story to a wider audience, Esdebe will be hosting a joint Webinar, during which Senior iXsystems Management bring their vision to the forum; discussing the future of storage, both from an iXsystems perspective and that of the wider storage market space as a whole.
Click here to register for ‘The Future of Storage’ Webinar on January 26th at 3pm.
Jonathan Chubb is Managing Director of Esdebe and has been working with Data Management, Protection and Availability since 2010.