Someone spoke to me privately via email and suggested that it would be fair that I disclose my "association" with Network Appliance. Since people were making decisions based upon my opinions (Hah! That would be a first!), they thought I should reveal whatever "bias" I might have, since I'm not just a customer. Some of you already know this. Some of you may also feel that having worked for Netapp, my arguments are suspect.
I take exception to that. I was a customer of Netapp for years back when I was working for NETCOM, before I later went to work at Netapp. I don't think that working for Netapp colored my opinions of the filer too much; I thought it was a great product in the first place, which is why I wanted to work there.
While I was at Netapp, I worked in Systems Administration. We used Netapp products in-house. In many ways, we were considered the "in-house customer". My job, when it came to the filer, was not to tell Engineering or Marketing or Sales what they wanted to hear... it was to tell them, fairly and honestly, what I liked and didn't like about the products, what the bugs we were encountering were, etc. In many ways this was a continuation of the close working relationship I had with them while we were running early Netapp products at NETCOM. If anything, my work in this area was excessive, but it enabled Netapp to fix bugs and address problems before you, the REAL customer, ever had to see them in the field.
Since I left Netapp, I've also done periodic consulting for them, but I'm not really associated with the product development cycle anymore. I'm not depending on a paychek from them or worried about getting fired for saying the wrong thing in this forum. If I were to go back to work for Netapp, I'll be sure to let everyone know.
The idea that this has somehow rendered me a Netapp "sympathizer" is ludicrous. I was enthusiastic about the products before I worked there and am enthusiastic about it afterwards. I don't think anyone who knew me at Netapp would accuse me of being anything less than forthright, or out here "towing the party line" to put on a good face to customers. I'm here giving you my honest views. I think those people who post that currently work at Netapp are being genuine as well. Certainly Guy Harris is no spin doctor. :)
Do I still have some stake in the company and want it to succeed? Certainly; I own stock in it. And I'm sure many other users of Netapp products do as well. I don't think that should make them suspect. Nor do I think ex-employees are necessarily suspect, either; if anything, I would expect them to be less supportive of their old company due to bad feelings, not more so.
In some ways, I think my having worked at Netapp gives my opinions slightly more weight. I understand a bit more about the decision-making process and I know what sorts of problems we ran into using beta software and hardware. I know, for example, that Netapp tests memory it gets from its vendors and some of it fails the stress tests. As an outsider you can guess one way or the other, but having been there myself, I know the facts.
My position on non-Netapp-supplied components should be clear by now. Using them means greater risk. You may be comfortable with that increased risk, and/or you may think it's too small to matter. And you may want to advocate on this list that others follow your lead. I don't mind that. Just don't mislead others into thinking the increased risk is zero.
Bruce