Category Archives: Rackspace

Rackspace Renovates Channel Program into New, Tiered Structure

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Rackspace Hosting Inc., a provider of managed hosting and cloud computing services, recently condensed its four channel programs into one global offering, adding a tiered benefits package, a dedicated partner portal and improved service and support.

The vendor said that its new Rackspace Partner Program combines its prior four channel programs for managed, cloud and email hosting, and Cloud Drive into one, four-tier umbrella structure that houses its roster of 4,500 solution providers.

“The enhanced Rackspace Partner Program is all about empowering our channel partners for the cloud revolution,” said Robert Fuller, Rackspace vice president, worldwide channel sales.

“We offer the industry’s broadest portfolio of cloud computing and hosting solutions,” he said. “As the market shifts from traditional on-premise server management to cloud-hosted services, we are empowering our channel partners to capitalise on this significant business opportunity and increase their ‘trusted advisor’ status with their customers,” Fuller said.

Under the Rackspace partner program, participants at each of four tiers—Platinum, Gold, Silver and Member—earn rewards under a points based system for business resold and referred and receive benefits under terms of a single contract that crosses the vendor’s full complement of offerings, including its Dedicated Hosting, Cloud Hosting, E-mail Hosting and Rackspace Cloud Drive, officials said.

The company also said that it has upgraded service, support and marketing assistance available to channel partners. Some channel partners will be offered a dedicated manager to handle their relationship with the vendor.

In addition, Rackspace said it has set up a web portal to provide channel partners with a means to manage sales leads, report commissions and gain access to educational tools, training and sales resources.

Rackspace also said that it has invested in a variety of marketing support activities, including developing micro sites to drive content directly to a partner’s web site, co-branded collateral automation and a virtual briefing centre for education and training on the vendor’s product portfolio.

Officials said that the company will deliver more enhancements to its partner program in the next six months.

Kenan Rappuchi, vice president, business development at Websitemovers.com, a data migration company based in Troy, MI, praised the upgrades to the Rackspace partner program.

“Most of our customers are utilising dedicated hosting, and many are now looking to incorporate cloud connected services to leverage the combined economic benefits of cloud with on-demand computing capabilities,” said Rappuchi.

“With the enhanced Rackspace Partner Program it’s even easier for us to extend these services to our customers and offer new services such as hosted email, hosted Microsoft SharePoint and online back-up capabilities,” he said.

Rackspace Launches Cloud Infrastructure in Europe

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Towards the end of last month Rackspace Hosting, a world leader in the hosting and cloud computing industry, announced the launch of its cloud infrastructure to provide customers with a European based infrastructure for their cloud-based data footprint.

“Our US-based Rackspace cloud has already been hugely successful, with over 100,000 customers globally now taking advantage of our hosted cloud services,” said Lanham Napier, President and CEO, Rackspace. “Due to storage regulations set out under European law, many UK companies are restricted from using cloud. Our UK offering allows companies to avoid offshore data issues and weighty upfront capital investments which helps them become more strategically agile from a business perspective. We’re delighted to launch our UK cloud today and we already have over 500 customers in beta.”

The new UK cloud offerings include Rackspace Cloud Files, running on OpenStack Object Storage, and Cloud Servers, based on the Xen hypervisor. The new cloud platform joins the dedicated hosting platform already offered in EMEA.

Rackspace Cloud Files provides instantly scalable cloud-based storage, which is ideal for electronically storing items like backups, video files, or static user content. Rackspace opened its source code for Cloud Files to the public through the OpenStack project, an open source cloud computing project founded by Rackspace in July 2010. The OpenStack project was initiated to drive open cloud standards, so customers would not be locked into proprietary cloud software.

Rackspace Cloud Servers provide instant computing power, allowing customers to serve applications with flexibility and efficiency. Customers are able to deploy one or even dozens of cloud servers instantly, for as long or as little as they are required. Available in Windows and a variety of Linux distributions, Cloud Servers gives users full root access and control over their servers through either the Rackspace Cloud control panel, the Application Programming Interface (API), third party tools or Rackspace’s newly acquired Cloudkick subsidiary. Rackspace has already fully integrated the Cloudkick panel into the UK cloud offering so users can manage both US and UK cloud servers from one panel.

“Some industry analysts have stated that by 2012, 20% of organisations will no longer own an in- house IT infrastructure,” continued Napier. “Cloud computing enables this evolution in a cost- effective way; if customers on the cloud no longer need resources, they stop using them and almost immediately stop paying for them. This will be critical to companies still fighting to cut costs from their budgets, and will allow them to control spending more tightly than ever before. It is as a result of direct feedback from our existing and prospective customer base in Europe that we have brought the Rackspace cloud to Europe and built it out in our UK data centre. The Rackspace European cloud brings with it reduced latency for those customers and helps eradicate concerns over currency fluctuations and European data legislation compliance.”

“Running our own servers proved inefficient and costly. With Rackspace, our resources are freed up from managing hardware and we are now better equipped to cater to spikes in demand online,” said Ivan Retzignac, Founder at MedicAnimal.com. “We are also saving in excess of £100,000 a year, which can be invested in better services and solutions for our customers.”

Rackspace Hosting is a world leading specialist in hosting and cloud computing. Rackspace provides Fanatical Support to its customers, across a portfolio of IT services, including Managed Hosting and Cloud Computing. For more information, visit www.rackspace.co.uk.

Rackspace Hosting Announces New CloudU Program and Webinar Series

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Free classes on cloud computing technology and business benefits

Rackspace Hosting, a leading specialist in the hosting and cloud computing industry today announced its new CloudU Program and webinar series.

CloudU is a cloud computing curriculum designed for technologists and non-technical users alike. The program’s goal is to build widespread knowledge about the cloud revolution and encourage discussion about the cloud’s benefits for businesses of all sizes.

Panelists for the first webinar, Revolution Not Evolution: How Cloud Computing Differs from Traditional IT and Why it Matters, will include John Engates, CTO, Rackspace, Ben Kepes, cloud computing analyst, Diversity Limited and Charles Babcock, editor-at-large, InformationWeek.

Three-hundred people who register to receive more information about CloudU will receive a free copy of Charlie’s book, “Management Strategies for the Cloud Revolution: How Cloud Computing Is Transforming Business and Why You Can’t Afford to Be Left Behind.”*

Other monthly whitepapers and webinar topics will include:

  • Cloudonomics: The Economics of Cloud Computing
  • Understanding the Cloud Stack: SaaS, PaaS and IaaS
  • Say Goodbye to DIY Data Centers: An Infrastructure-as-a-Service Intensive
  • Elephant in the Room: Cloud Security and What Vendors and Customers Need To Do To Stay Secure
  • Planning a Move to the Cloud: Tips, Tricks and Pitfalls
  • Running a Business on the Cloud: Management Strategies for the New IT
  • Creative Configurations: Mixing and Matching Public, Private and Hybrid Clouds for Maximum benefits
  • Does Data Want to be Free? Exploring Issues in the Open Cloud from Vendor Lock-in to Open Standards
  • You Want to Put My Database Where?: Determining the Right Fit Between Your Technology and Cloud, and When It Makes Sense to Stay In-House
  • iTunes meets Big Business: The Rise of Software-as-a-Service Marketplaces and How to Leverage Them for Your Business
  • A Future in the Clouds?: Predicting the Landscape in 3 Years’ Time

When:

The first webinar, Revolution Not Evolution: How Cloud Computing Differs from Traditional IT and Why it Matters, will take place on Thursday, January 27 at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.

Where:

To register please visit: https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/schedule/display.do?udc=3vyxz5rtl24m

For more information on CloudU and a full schedule of upcoming whitepapers and webinars, please visit: www.rackspacecloud.com/cloudU.

* For more information how you can receive a free copy of the book visit http://www.rackspacecloud.com/blog/2011/01/24/cloudu-first-webinar-and-whitepaper/

For more information about Rackspace and the company’s suite of products, visit: www.rackspace.com.

Nimsoft Unveils New Tool for Rackspace Cloud Monitoring

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Nimsoft have announced the availability of Nimsoft Cloud Monitor, a new tool for monitoring Rackspace cloud-based servers.

Nimsoft leveraged its extensive experience with cloud hosting and collaborated with Rackspace to develop this new tool – which enables customers to track usage, performance and availability of cloud-based servers hosted by Rackspace.

“Cloud-based hosting services are gaining increased adoption because of the cost and flexibility advantages they provide,” said Dennis Callaghan, senior analyst, enterprise software at The 451 Group. “The more organisations are able to integrate performance and availability monitoring of cloud infrastructure services with monitoring of the rest of their IT environments, the better equipped they’ll be to maximise the benefits – as well as the overall performance and availability – of the cloud services they use.”

Nimsoft Cloud Monitor complements the Nimsoft Monitoring Solution (NMS), which enables organisations to monitor and manage a wide range of diverse applications and services, from the data center to the cloud, with a single easy-to-deploy solution.

“Organisations running applications on the server infrastructure hosted by Rackspace need to continually verify that those servers are performing optimally and pro-actively head off any problems that could potentially impact service levels,” said Gary Read, Nimsoft CEO. “With our complimentary Nimsoft Cloud Monitor tool, administrators gain this essential visibility into their cloud infrastructure – while still enjoying all the economic and operational benefits of Rackspace hosting.”

Nimsoft Cloud Monitor offers a broad range of useful capabilities, including:

  • Intuitive, customisable dashboards display key performance metrics, including server bandwidth, disk space, number of bytes in storage accounts, and more.
  • Configurable alarms notify users when problems or potential performance-degrading issues occur.
  • Resource usage monitoring provides current and historical utilisation metrics so users can better understand and control on-going Rackspace cloud costs.
  • Performance monitoring delivers specific metrics and vital insights into the responsiveness of servers and the overall infrastructure.

Nimsoft Cloud Monitor is available via complimentary download at http://www.nimsoft.com/rs/monitoring.php. The Nimsoft Cloud Monitor will be licensed on a no-charge basis for a limited time and the license will terminate upon the conclusion of the free period; additional terms and restrictions apply. The software requires an active Rackspace account to operate and the Nimsoft license does not include any Rackspace services or third party systems required to operate the software.

NB This offer is made to end users located in the United States only.

Nimsoft provides Unified Monitoring solutions for virtualised data centers, hosted and managed services, cloud platforms, and SaaS resources. The Nimsoft Unified Monitoring architecture eliminates the need to deploy a new monitoring solution for outsourced services, public or private clouds, or SaaS implementations. For more information, visit www.nimsoft.com or to see Nimsoft Unified Monitoring in action, visit the Nimsoft public portal at www.unifiedmonitoring.com.

Lanham Napier, CEO of Rackspace, named in Top 100

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Rackspace Hosting, a leading specialist in the hosting and cloud computing industry, today announced that Lanham Napier, president and chief executive officer, was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Executives in the Industry by Everything Channel’s CRN.

Since arriving at Rackspace, Napier has been largely credited by Rackspace’s management team with keeping the company steady and setting it on its current path to profitability and success. His work with the executive team has grown the company, and has made Rackspace a strong competitor in the hosting and cloud computing industry. Under Napier’s leadership, Rackspace has successfully launched channel programs for the company’s managed hosting, cloud computing and email hosting businesses.

Napier attributes much of Rackspace’s success to its deep passion and interest in the customer at every level of the company, and its hallmark customer service – Fanatical Support. This commitment from Napier and Rackspace has enabled the company to build a network of over 2,500 dedicated hosting partners and 2,000 cloud partners, including recognised industry names like Ingram Micro and NetApp. These unique partner programs are expected to be integrated into one global program in early 2011.

Selected by the editors of CRN, the Top 100 Most Influential Executives in the Industry listing recognises the executives who have changed the way the channel does business today and in the future. This year’s list salutes the 25 Most Influential Executives – individuals who are focused on innovation, as well as consistency and those overcoming remarkable challenges; the 25 Channel Sales Leaders – hard charging executives who are driving their indirect organisation and partners forward with sales and marketing initiatives; the 25 Most Innovative Executives – individuals who exude innovation from either a technology or business strategy front; and the 25 Mavericks – executives whose brash and bold thinking is changing the rules of the channel.

“Receiving this recognition from Everything Channel’s CRN as one of the most influential individuals is truly an honor,” said Lanham Napier, president and CEO of Rackspace. “At Rackspace, we strive to be a good collaborator for our channel partners, helping to educate them about new technologies like hybrid hosting and helping them to reach new markets. We are fully committed to delivering the best and broadest portfolio available to our channel partners.”

“With so many innovative channel executives in the industry today, we’ve expanded our list to include 100 executives. We’ve highlighted the most influential, the sales leaders, the most innovative as well as those who have changed the rules of the channel. We salute these leaders for their hard work and devotion to the technology channel,” said Robert C. DeMarzo, senior vice president and editorial director, Everything Channel.

The Top 100 Most Influential list was based on nominations from solution providers and industry executives rating channel influence, effectiveness and visibility along with business and sales impact.

Winners were announced in the November 29 issue of CRN. To read about the Top 100 Most Influential Executives in the Industry, go to www.channelweb.com.

Rackspace Hosting is a world leading specialist in the hosting and cloud computing industry. The San Antonio-based company provides Fanatical Support to its customers, across a portfolio of IT services, including Managed Hosting, Cloud Computing and Email and Apps. For more information, visit www.rackspace.com.

Rackspace Hosting to Present at Investor Conferences

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Rackspace Hosting have announced that John Engates, chief technology officer, will present at the Goldman Sachs Techtonics Conference 2010 in New York on November 9, 2010 at 2:15 p.m. Eastern time.

Jason Luce, vice president of finance, and Bryan McGrath, director of finance, will present at the Piper Jaffray Technology, Media & Telecommunications Conference in New York on November 10, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern time.

Audio webcasts of the presentations will be available on the Rackspace Web site, located at http://ir.rackspace.com.

Rackspace provides its customers with Fanatical Support in delivering its portfolio of hosted IT services, including Managed Hosting, Cloud Computing and Email and Apps. For more information, visit www.rackspace.com.

Asset Archives Selects Rackspace Hosting for Reliability & Security

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Asset Archives Inc., a leading collections management solutions provider, has selected Rackspace hosting, a world leader in the hosting and cloud computing industry, as its hosting provider. Asset Archives will use Rackspace’s Managed Hosting solution for all applications, including internal workflow and project management solutions as well as customer solutions like iDocument, a software application to assist homeowners and collectors to manage their residential contents. The decision to use Rackspace’s managed hosting solution was driven from the need for a highly scalable platform, reliability and data security.

“We are focused on delivering secure, efficient and reliable products to our clients,” said Brian Ward, co-founder of Asset Archives. “Rackspace is able to provide us with a platform and solution that will allow us to grow, make certain our client data is secure and ensure reliability with their world class customer service and response time.”

Rackspace delivers enterprise-level hosting services to businesses of all sizes and kinds around the world. Since it’s inception in 1998 they have grown to serve more than 99,000 customers, including over 80,000 cloud computing customers. Examples of other organizations that partner with Rackspace include NASA, Bluetooth, Advanced Data Exchange and LivingSocial. For more information about Rackspace please visit www.rackspace.com.

Asset Archives Inc. serves as the next generation for contents and collections management. The services and products offered by Asset Archives address the inventory, valuation and management of residential contents and collections for risk, financial and estate planning purposes.

Rackspace Content Delivery Network Webinar

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If you missed the Rackspace Cloud Files’ Content Delivery Network (CDN) webinar from a few weeks ago, the link below takes you to a recording to view online.

In this webinar, Jason Thibeault, Sr. Director of Cloud Strategy, Limelight Networks, and Megan Wohlford, Product Manager for Rackspace Cloud Files, take a look at both the storage market as a whole and individual Rackspace customers to show how CDNs can be used to bring data to companies with modern needs.

The webinar compares Cloud Files and Limelight speeds to others in the market, as well as highlighting some of the main events that Limelight has supported.

To view the webinar, click here.