Tech Data (TECD) became the first of EMC’s (EMC) four distributors to publicly announce its intentions to carry the vendor’s new flash-optimized VNX storage array and upgraded VSPEX Proven Infrastructure configurations.

The distributor said it will house and support EMC’s second-generation VNX unified solution through its Advanced Infrastructure Solutions (AIS) division.

EMC showed off the updated VNX technology, based on the concept of optimizing rather than accommodating flash, at an event Wednesday in Milan, Italy. According to EMC, the new version can provide up to 1.1 million IOPS (I/O operations per second), 30Gbps bandwidth with a doubled maximum capacity to 6PB. EMC is positioning it as a storage breakthrough for midrange virtual environments when coupled with the vendor’s new MCx software to maximize flash performance. An EMC Unisphere Management Suite is intended to improve management productivity and provide tight integration with VMware (VMW) vSphere and Microsoft (MSFT) Hyper-V.

According to Tech Data, the hook for channel partners is the opportunity to offer a high-value midrange storage solution to increase revenue and margin, accelerate sales growth with VSPEX and VCE vBlock infrastructure solutions, and build high-value service opportunities.

"VNX and VSPEX both help drive profitability for our solutions providers, while providing end users with flexible, simple and efficient infrastructure solutions,” said Ken Griffin, Tech Data AIS Storage Solutions product marketing vice president.

Griffin said Tech Data's dedicated EMC team will offer full-service enablement to solution providers, including technical support, sales training, lead generation and marketing activities.

The new VSPEX offers private cloud solutions scaling up to 1,000 virtual machines, according to EMC, which also announced that a dozen VSPEX solutions representing popular use cases are being enhanced to leverage the VNX system. The new solutions include VSPEX private cloud with VMware vSphere 5.5 and VSPEX with EMC RecoverPoint.

"EMC is laser focused on delivering our distributors, reseller partners, and customers game-changing technologies that increase their bottom line," said Leonard Iventosch, EMC Americas Channel Sales vice president.

"Tech Data's support of today's EMC VNX and VSPEX announcements exhibits a clear commitment to delivering their end partners with technology that's anything but ordinary. Organizations today shouldn't have to settle for anything less than what EMC has announced today,” he said.