+--- In a previous state of mind, Sam Schorr sschorr@homestead.com wrote: | | the same model that has led to open sourcing in other areas. If they have | chosen to integrate the drivers directly into ONTap instead of calling the | drivers as needed, and if they have not adhered to whatever standards exist | for those interfaces, then NetApp has self-created a monopoly. It will go
I don't think you really understand how in tune the OS has to be with the hardware. The systems are geared for performance. Thus, NetApp has to qualify the specific parts that will get the performance, features and reliability that the users expect with this product.
You could put some cheesse-ball 10/100 ethernet card in your filer. But do you really expect to be able to get decent performance out of it? Tell me there is no difference between a $30 Netgear 10/100 card and the $200 Zynx that NetApp uses (or used to use).
The same goes for SCSI controllers (fcal now) as well as all other components.
Saying that NetApp should "call the drivers as needed" is dandy. What drivers are those they should call? The ones for Netware? NT? Unix? This is why NetApp writes drivers to the specs the vendors supply (or whatever vendor meets their needs).
If you put 3rd party stuff in yout filer, you do so at your own risk. Sun, et all will support you if you are putting in certified hardware. No reason NetApp should be different.
Alexei