Unified Storage Services Offering Delivers Enhanced Support for Solaris, Mainframe and Open Systems Environments -- Sun Microsystems today announced the availability of Sun StorageTek Service Plans. Resulting from the integration of the StorageTek TekCare support program into the SunSpectrum support portfolio, the new plans provide an enriched set of capabilities that address customer needs for continuous data availability and reliable, responsive customer care. The new Sun StorageTek Service Plans are a component of the SunSpectrum Support portfolio which also includes Service Plan options for Sun systems and software, including the Solaris Operating System (OS). The Sun StorageTek Service Plans combine the best of both the TekCare and SunSpectrum programs, including integrated hardware and firmware telephone support and hardware on-site maintenance service as well as providing one-stop interoperability support for multi-vendor environments, remote diagnostic and resolution services, firmware updates, and 24/7 access to Sun's eLearning Library and customer resource centers. Designed to address heterogeneous storage environments, the new plans support Sun storage products in DAS, NAS or SAN storage architectures. "With the merger of these two programs, Sun has reached another milestone in the integration between Sun and StorageTek. The new Sun StorageTek Service Plans deliver a rich set of resources designed to provide customers with the continued world-class service and support they've come to expect and rely on," said Nigel Dessau, vice president of Storage Marketing and Business Operations, Sun Microsystems. "Sun is committed to helping customers focus on running their business knowing that the information they need to make better decisions will be available when and where they need it." For TekCare customers, the Sun StorageTek Service Plans add a number of key features. Interoperability support enables jointly-contracted customers to make a single call for problem resolution. Sun's eLearning Library provides training to increase productivity and enable customers to get more from their storage assets. Remote diagnostic and resolution services enable customers to take advantage of faster problem resolution and minimize the need for on-site support. Customers will also continue to have access to the StorageTek knowledgebase, which includes documentation, support forms, community resources, product registration, and firmware updates. Additional details are available at: its Web site. Sun Expands Data Migration Services Suite Sun also announced two new additions to its Sun Data Migration Services suite – Sun ESCON to FICON Migration Service and the Sun Host-Based Data Migration Service -- which are designed to easily and seamlessly migrate data or systems from one location to another. The Sun ESCON to FICON Migration Service provides a 3-step process from an initial migration workshop to architectural assessment through implementation. The migration workshop enables customers to meet with Sun FICON experts to discuss and evaluate FICON technologies in the context of their specific environments. The workshop is followed by an architecture assessment which provides an in-depth analysis and performance model of a new FICON environment. In addition, the assessment delivers a performance and cost-optimized migration plan. The process culminates in implementation. With Sun's Host-Based Data Migration Service, customers can facilitate data migrations with little to no disruption to the application or user environment. Compatible with both mainframe and open systems environments, the Host-Based Data Migration Service supports multiple platforms and vendors, with the ability to migrate locally within the data center or to co-located geographies. For more information on Sun's ESCON to FICON, Host Based Data Migrations, and all of Sun's Data Migration Services go to: its Web site.