storage area network deployment (fwd)

-- Brian Tao (BT300, taob@risc.org) "Though this be madness, yet there is method in't" ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001 09:31:45 -0000 From: Deni Connor dconnor@nww.com To: 'Brian Tao' taob@risc.org Subject: storage area network deployment I saw your name on a newsgroup and am interested in user perspective for a story I am writing for Network World on storage. Today, IBM, EMC, Compaq, Hitachi Data Systems, Brocaade and McData announced the Supported Solutions Forum, which will offer storage area networking solutions and unified support for customers. They say that with support measures in place for heterogenous SANs that it will stop the fingerpointing that takes place when a user adopts a multi-vendor SAN. The user will be able to contact a vendor when he/she has a problem and that vendor will contact other vendors to solve the problem. The companies will also build 128-port Fibre Channel SANs using McData and Brocade switches. 1. Would the existance of such a forum give you a better reason to adopt a SAN? 2. Would you trust the members of this organization to handle cooperative support better? 3. The organization doesn't support equipment from HP or Sun. Is this a problem for your? 4. Are you adopting SANS? If yes, why? If not, why not? 5. If you have the vendor's assuances that the SAN products they put in will interoperate, will that make it easier for you o adopt a SAN? 6. Would you be happier adopting a SAN knowing that it could be made up from a variety of vendors products? 7. Do you think that being a member of this group will make vendors make equipment more interoperable? 8 If I don't have this info, what is your title? Who do you work for? Where are you located? Thank you in advance. Deni Connor Senior Editor Network World, The Leader in Network Knowledge Tele: 512-345-3850 Fax: 512-345-3860 8815 Mountain Path Circle Austin, Texas 78759 Covering Storage, Novell, Linux and open source For Networking News & Info: www.nwfusion.com Find out more about Network World, Inc.: www.networkworld.com