Vespertec has partnered with PEAK:AIO to offer AI storage systems to enterprise customers, linking the Stockport infrastructure reseller with the Manchester storage software company.
The deal combines PEAK:AIO's software-defined storage with Vespertec's infrastructure integration expertise for organisations building AI and high-performance computing systems. The initial focus is on packaged, tested deployments for enterprise and hyperscale workloads.
Demand for storage built for AI training and inference has risen as companies invest in graphics processing units and related server infrastructure. That is pushing buyers beyond established storage suppliers towards software-led systems that can run on a wider range of hardware.
The partnership expands the options Vespertec can offer customers seeking AI-ready storage without committing to a single proprietary stack. The reseller has previously deployed hardware from suppliers including NVIDIA and SuperMicro in finance, healthcare and high-performance computing environments.
According to the companies, PEAK:AIO's software is already in use at Los Alamos National Labouratory and in National Health Service AI environments in the UK. They added that it has been validated at 160 GB/s throughput per server and can scale across multiple nodes.
The two businesses are developing integrated systems based on open infrastructure. Their aim is to deliver a tested platform that combines hardware and software, rather than leaving customers to assemble separate parts themselves.
Storage choices
For many buyers, storage has become a critical part of AI infrastructure planning because data bottlenecks can leave expensive processors underused. Suppliers have responded by promoting systems that can support large models and analytics workloads without tying customers to a single hardware brand.
PEAK:AIO argued that the usual buying model starts with the hardware supplier, with software decisions following later. This partnership reverses that order by putting storage software at the centre of the design while allowing it to run on open infrastructure.
That approach matches Vespertec's role as a reseller and integration specialist rather than a single-brand equipment maker. Its business has focused on advising customers on compute, storage and networking choices before building and supporting installations.
Phillip Kaye outlined the rationale for the deal.
"We're excited to be working with PEAK:AIO -- a company whose software-first, open approach to AI storage aligns completely with the Vespertec ideology. As AI workloads become increasingly data-hungry, our customers need storage infrastructure that is fast, scalable, and free from vendor lock-in. This partnership is a significant step towards giving them exactly that," said Phillip Kaye, Director and Co-Founder at Vespertec.
Open model
The partnership reflects a shared preference for open, vendor-neutral infrastructure. In practice, that means giving customers a choice of server hardware while using PEAK:AIO software as the storage layer.
PEAK:AIO cited work at Los Alamos National Labouratory where its software increased throughput from 70 GB/s to more than 400 GB/s on existing hardware. It also said its products are used in healthcare, government, research and university settings in the UK, Europe and the United States.
Manchester has developed a growing cluster of AI and data infrastructure firms, and the tie-up keeps both sides of the agreement in the North West of England. It also highlights the role of specialist resellers in bringing newer AI infrastructure products to market, particularly as enterprise demand moves faster than the supply of established systems.
Roger Cummings said the arrangement was intended to change how customers buy AI storage.
"AI storage has historically required customers to choose a hardware vendor before choosing a software solution. This partnership breaks that model. Customers get proven, high-performance storage software on open infrastructure, deployable in hours, starting at a single server. Vespertec's expertise in solution integration means we can reach customers who need that level of performance without being told which hardware to buy from," said Roger Cummings, Chief Executive Officer, PEAK:AIO.