Nexenta: Partners Drive Storage Revenue Growth

Nexenta, an open source storage vendor that leverages the IT channel, says 1Q 2010 revenues jumped 414 percent vs. the corresponding quarter last year. Yes, we realize it's relatively easy for small companies to show big percentage growth rates. But Nexenta has our attention. Here's why.

Nexenta, an open source storage vendor that leverages the IT channel, says 1Q 2010 revenues jumped 414 percent vs. the corresponding quarter last year. Yes, we realize it’s relatively easy for small companies to show big percentage growth rates. But Nexenta has our attention. Here’s why.

I talked a little bit about Nexenta’s growth and development back in March 2010. Since that time, the company released a major product upgrade and grew out their channel business with 10 new partners across the globe. Nexenta’s total channel now includes roughly 100 VARs.

Also of interest: Nexenta is boasting that they remained profitable and achieved cash flow breakeven despite a hiring spree. They say the revenue boost came from their 241 new customers, from ISPs to hosting companies to R&D teams.

Most interestingly, in Q1 2010, Nexenta says that they added Bill Moore, the co-creator of the ZFS file system that their storage platform is based on, to their advisory board.

Still, we’re curious to see how Nexenta’s technology strategy evolves in the years ahead. The company’s NexentaCore open source operating system apparently leverages OpenSolaris. And plenty of skeptics have openly wondered how Oracle plans to support OpenSolaris as part of the Sun acquisition.

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