In its continuing drive to capitalize on opportunities presented by the rush of businesses to “cloud computing,” Red Hat (NYSE: RHT) is forming a formal partnership with Hortonworks, one of the leading providers of essential cloud software known as Hadoop.

SAS already is a partner with Hortonworks as the Cary-based software firm aggressively pursues its own Hadoop technology for use with “big data” analysis.

A beta software version of a joint solution – the Hortonworks Data Platform (HDP) combined with Red Hat Storage – is already available.

The deal comes as no surprise. Hortonworks told WRALTechWire in October that undisclosed work with the world’s top Linux software developer was already underway.


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“Yes, we partnered with Red Hat around OpenStack and Red Hat Storage, in addition to other ways we are working with them that have not been announced ye,” John Kreisa, vice president of strategic marketing for Hortonworks, explained. “We support the Red Hat Linux platform for use with our product, the Hortonworks Data Platform (HDP).

The cloud deal is the latest in a series of moves made by Red Hat, which is seeking to make its Red Hat Enterprise Linux and related products more appealing to companies that want the versatility and flexibility -often along with cost-savings – afforded by cloud networks. Red Hat also had worked with Hortonworks in development prior to Monday’s announcement.

The deal follows the results of a recently commissioned study by Red Hat in which companies were surveyed by research firm IDC.

Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst has long eyed Hadoop as a major resource.

In a 2013 interview with ZDnet, Whitehurst touted the future of Hadoop: ”Hadoop will be massively used. I could see Hortonworks and Cloudera [a Hortonworks rival that also works with SAS] becoming the Oracle and IBM DB2 of Hadoop. I can also see Hadoop being embedded everywhere and the value is upstream.”

Among respondents, 32 percent said they already had deployed Hadoop solutions, another 31 percent planned to do so over the next year, and 36 percent forecast Hadoop deployments further in the future.

Hortonworks is the No. 1 contributor to Apache Hadoop.

The alliance calls for the companies to integrate their product lines, work together in “go-to market” initiatives and to collaborate on customer support.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Ranga Rangachari, vice president and general manager of Storage and Big Data at Red Hat, called Hadoop the “killer application” in so-called open clouds where solutions are not based on proprietary solutions.

“Data – specifically data running processed with Hadoop – is the killer application for the open hybrid cloud,” he said. “Enterprises are looking to IT solution providers to help with a dramatic reduction in time-to-results for their big data projects. Red Hat’s strategic alliance with Hortonworks is focused on helping customers with efficiency and agility as they embark on big data projects.”

Hadoop says the deal is confirmation of its commitment to open-source cloud solutions.

Noted Shaun Connolly, vice president, corporate strategy at Hortonworks:

“At the rapid rate that enterprises expand their Hadoop requirements – due to the business consistently identifying new use cases and more internal stakeholders – the Red Hat and Hortonworks strategic alliance provides a seamless approach to enabling the next generation of data-driven applications. Our mutual customers complement both their Hadoop strategy and commitment to community-driven open source innovation.”

Hortonworks is based in Palo Alto, Calif.

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