Vblock integrates Cisco's Unified Computing System (UCS) servers and networking switches with EMC storage arrays, as well as virtualization software from its subsidiary VMware, for public and private cloud services.

At its annual users forum last year, then-EMC President and Chief Operating Officer the company had demonstrated server capability on storage arrays by running VMware-based virtual machines (VMs) on storage arrays.

The technology is enabled through EMC's pervasive use of multicore Intel x86 processors. EMC runs vSphere directly on the storage controllers and then uses vMotion to migrate VMs from application servers onto the storage array.

Paul Mansky, managing director of equity research for financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, that China represents 5% to 6% of the storage market, but it is growing fast.