The new storage-management software, EMC ControlCenter, is a group of modules for all aspects of storage infrastructure administration and management. ControlCenter, which works with EMC's Symmetrix storage systems, is designed to help customers with capacity planning and load balancing, which are needed to handle spikes in demand. The modules handle monitoring, configuring the storage environment to meet changing business requirements, tuning to ensure high performance, and planning for future capacity.

Most important, EMC says, ControlCenter will detect problems, determine the best solution, and take corrective action without human assistance. A typical configuration will be priced between $100,000 and $200,000; some modules are available now. The enterprise storage leader also unveiled an API for automated Unix access to mainframe data.

CriticalPath Inc. in San Francisco, a Web E-mail postmaster for more than 7 million subscribers, has purchased 52 terabytes of Symmetrix storage since July. It says it hasn't missed a message since installing the systems at four data centers around the world.

EMC's ability to deliver systems that scale, eliminate single points of failure, and automate monitoring of the systems is critical to customer-relationship management, says Matt Hartwell-Herrero, CriticalPath's infrastructure product manager. "Our base level of service is that all our customers always have access to information," he says.

EMC also beefed up a partnership with Oracle, under which the vendors will devote money and resources to a new Oracle business unit, the EMC Strategic Business Unit. The unit will help companies configure and implement stable Internet infrastructures.

Sean Derrington, an analyst with Meta Group, says EMC can't guarantee 100% of the information because it can't cover data corruption that takes place in applications. "But at worst, for IS executives deploying Symmetrix, EMC should be able to guarantee continuous access to information on the storage hardware," he says.

Another EMC customer praises the company's service. "EMC has come in and replaced drives before we even knew there was a problem," says Robert Dykman, VP of technology infrastructure for Barnesandnoble.com in New York. "With all the components we have to manage across the storage network, any expansion of capabilities by EMC is a plus for us."