SVG Sit-Down: Quantum CEO Jamie Lerner Says Company's Innovation Engine Is Running at Full Speed Again' Major goal is to transition from hardware offerings to software-defined architecture By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor
Thursday, October 31, 2019 - 7:00 am
Print This Story
Story Highlights
It has been 16 months since Jamie Lerner took over as president/CEO of Quantum, and he has been plenty busy. In that period, the company has launched the NVMe-powered F-Series storage system and a line of distributed cloud services and cloud-based analytics and has officially entered the video-surveillance industry with the VS-Series storage platform. In addition, Quantum has cleaned up its financial picture, completed the restatement process for previous quarters, and created $70 million in cost reduction.
SVG sat down with Lerner to discuss the company's transformation over the past year; his vision for moving to a software-defined, hybrid-cloud architecture; the industry's reaction to the recent product releases; the increasing popularity of NVMe-based storage; and what to expect from Quantum in the coming year.
Quantum's Jamie Lerner: Our technology is getting stronger in surveillance, and we are starting to deploy anywhere you see a lot of video.
What have been the major highlights of your first year as CEO?
The biggest highlight for me has been that the innovation engine is running at full speed at Quantum again. We've made a series of innovations that are stairsteps towards our main goal, which is to move to a more software-defined, hybrid-cloud, hyperconverged architecture. Traditionally, we've been very hardware-centric, so that is a big move for Quantum.
And what steps is Quantum taking to make that transition?
The first thing we did to begin that journey was introduce our F-Series product, which is an all-NVMe RDMA [remote direct memory access] network product. We launched that about six months ago, and we already have many of our largest customers on that technology. It's in production, it's at scale, and it's performing even better than we thought. I think it's also important to note that it's entirely our own block-storage technology. For many years, we had always relied on OEM for that, and now we have our own block-storage technology.
Next, we took that block storage and virtualized it. We launched the VS-Series, a video surveillance product that we see being used at stadiums and sporting events. That is the same block storage but now in a virtual package. We can take the block storage and the video-management software and run them converged on the same equipment. That's all software-defined, so you can use our equipment or third-party equipment.
The third major step is, we made all the products at Quantum monitorable from the cloud. Our Cloud Based Analytics will allow you to monitor Quantum technology anywhere - whether it's in the cloud or in your data center.
Lastly, we've been doing a lot of work on our [flagship] StorNext [storage] platform to make it easier to operate, including enhancing the user interfaces and the web-service APIs. And we're very excited to be just a few months away from having StorNext run on the cloud. So now you can not only move data back and forth to the cloud but actually operate StorNext on premises or in the cloud. And we'll be going even further by fully hyperconverging the StorNext platform over the next six months.
How has the market reacted to all these developments?
Several of our largest customers are now running the F-Series, which is amazing, considering that kind of thing usually takes a year-long sales cycle. A lot of our large customers moved in the first three or four months because the speed was just so compelling. And we have over 2,400 customers across our tape and StorNext products, [which now feature] cloud-based analytics. It's free to all our customers because we want them to use it: if you monitor your system, it will obviously run better.
Separately, we've also seen a lot of success with the R-Series, a ruggedized edge product we introduced earlier this year. It's already running on [movie] sets, airplanes, buses, and all sorts of other applications. And we're seeing more interest from [production-truck vendors], and we are quoting a series of different truck deployments right now. It really gives us that edge technology that we'd been lacking for some time.
As the cost of NVMe drops, do you expect adoption of this technology to accelerate quickly? If so, how do you see the F-Series user base developing in the near term?
The F-Series [launched] with the F2000, which is an extremely high-availability product but is quite expensive. In a couple of months, we will be releasing a new version that may not be as redundant but is a sixth of the price. At that point, the price of NVMe is so aggressive that I don't see how SSD or 10,000-rpm hard drives can remain an option for people. I think [users] will end up with NVMe for their high-performance needs, large-capacity hard drives for near-line and middle-tier [storage], and tape and cloud for [deep archive]. I just don't see why anyone would buy an SSD-based product or a 10,000-rpm hard-drive product once we get to that point.
A year ago, we didn't think [NVMe adoption] would happen this fast, but the price [reductions] have been so massive that it has really speeded things up. As we move away from the really high-end enterprise [clients] and shift more towards the commercial-grade [market], pricing [for NVMe] starts getting very disruptive.
Earlier this year, Quantum formally entered the video-surveillance market with the VS-Series. How has that product been received?
Over the next several years, the surveillance market is going to grow exponentially, and we realiz
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
06/05/2026
Gravity Media Chief RF Communications Engineer Glenn Willems uses Wisycom RF over Fiber and wireless solutions across major cycling events and international mar...
06/05/2026
A Sennheiser Spectera module is now available in Bitfocus Companion and Buttons, enabling direct integration of Spectera with the two software platforms. The mo...
06/05/2026
Ted Turner, the visionary media entrepreneur whose appetite for disruption helpe...
06/05/2026
Peacock is going all-in on the beautiful game - streaming all 104 FIFA World Cup...
06/05/2026
New pricing tiers for vocal/dialogue restoration tool
NoiseWorks Audio's AI-powered vocal and dialogue processing plug-in is now available in three diff...
06/05/2026
Popular mixing & routing software overhauled
Following a recent public beta test, RME have launched the final release version of the powerful mixing and rou...
06/05/2026
New SOS Video Feature
Focusrites ISA C8X is a milestone product that brings together the companys analogue heritage and their expertise in digital audio. Yo...
06/05/2026
Polands Miecznik-class frigates are part of the largest contract in Polish shipbuilding history. (Image Credit: PGZ Stocznia Wojenna)...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Riedel Communications today announced the expansion of its leadership structure as part of a strategic initiative to strengthen both its operational management ...
06/05/2026
For nearly three decades, Veteran Production Sound Mixer and Five-time Emmy Award Winner Dirk Sciarrotta has helped define the sonic identity of the long-runnin...
06/05/2026
ZEISS CinCraft LensCore: Cinema Lens Looks for Compositing
Brie Clayton May 6, 2026
0 Comments
ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a nove...
06/05/2026
Wisycom Solves Extreme RF Challenges Across Miles of Live Action for Gravity Med...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Narrative Entertainment has partnered with Encompass to deliver high-quality subtitling of its Great! network content using the Altitude Intelligence AI assiste...
06/05/2026
SipRadius, widely recognized for making content processing and connectivity secure and seamless, is proud to launch a dramatic new approach to AI content creati...
06/05/2026
When the broadband and media industry gathers at ANGA COM in Cologne from May 19 to 21, Big Blue Marble will be at the forefront. The international broadcast an...
06/05/2026
Cinegy GmbH, a leading developer of software-defined television technology, is proud to exhibit at MPTS for the first time. Visitors to the stand will discover ...
06/05/2026
Val Jeanty Receives 2026 Doris Duke Artist Award Jeanty, a composer, percussionist, and turntablist, is the fourth Berklee recipient of the prestigious award ...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
06/05/2026
When live cycling races and international marathons stretch for miles across cities and countryside, there is no margin for RF failure in live broadcast. As Chi...
06/05/2026
Oberkochen/Germany, May 5, 2026
ZEISS announces the launch of CinCraft LensCore, a novel solution for creating physically based cinematic lens looks for visual...
06/05/2026
06 May 2026
VEON's Kyivstar Authorized to Resell Starlink for Businesses & ...
06/05/2026
UKTV has secured the exclusive rights to the early back catalogue of iconic Australian drama series Neighbours, following a landmark content deal with Fremantle...
06/05/2026
Wednesday 6 May 2026
Sky commissions feature documentary to mark 10th anniversa...
06/05/2026
Wednesday 6 May 2026
Sky and Formula 1 agree long-term partnership across UK, Ireland and Italy
Sky in the UK & Ireland to remain the home of Formula 1 until ...
06/05/2026
Sky Zero Footprint Fund-backed TV campaign launches nationwide, supported by new...
06/05/2026
Wuppertal May 6, 2026
Riedel Expands Leadership Structure, Appoints Marc Engro...
06/05/2026
SAN JOSE, Calif. - May 6, 2026 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced its latest broadband innovations for ANGA COM 2026, highlighting its vision for a new e...
06/05/2026
Statement from Rupert Murdoch, Chairman Emeritus, Fox Corporation on Ted Turner&...
06/05/2026
Friday 8 May on RT One and RT Player
Meet the NSPCA team caring for and protecting animals in need in this six-part series
Fly on the wall, six-part series...
06/05/2026
The race to build the world's most powerful AI factories demands networking ...
06/05/2026
How changes to proteins can alter drug interactions for new precision therapies Scripps Research team maps how chemical modifications to proteins affect drug bi...
05/05/2026
Experts from the world of academia, tech, business, politics and media convened for a Thomson Talks at the Cambridge Disinformation Summit in April. It's th...
05/05/2026
Three phones were hardwired for power and transmission to the truck; camera feat...
05/05/2026
The creative studio behind campaigns for the NBA, Fanatics Sportsbook & Casino, ...
05/05/2026
Nielsen has announced results from a co-viewing pilot program covering February&...
05/05/2026
viztrick AiDi, an on-device AI solution developed by Nippon TV, delivered global...
05/05/2026
ARRI has announced Omnibar, a battery-powered, IP65-rated multi-color LED linear...
05/05/2026
Imagine Communications has announced that France T l visions is the first broadc...
05/05/2026
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and Bell Media today announced a multiyear agreement to broadcast and stream WNBA games in Canada beginni...
SVG Sit-Down: Quantum CEO Jamie Lerner Says Company's Innovation Engine Is Running at Full Speed Again' Major goal is to transition from hardware offerings to software-defined architecture By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor 
