Data Storage Industry Experts Believe Vendors Must 'Listen To The User' To Make Storage Networking Successful.LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 17, 1999-- Eurologic Systems Sponsors Industry Panel On The Role Of SAN And NAS (1) See network access server. (2) (Network Attached Storage) A specialized file server that connects to the network. A NAS device contains a slimmed-down operating system and a file system and processes only I/O requests by supporting the popular In Setting The Direction Of Data Storage A panel of data storage industry experts gathered at COMDEX The former, premier computer trade show in the U.S. Although it grew into an end user event, it was originally created for dealers and distributors (it was the COMputer Dealers EXposition). today agreed that technology alone will not drive the adoption of network-attached storage See NAS. (NAS) and storage area networking (SAN) by end-users. For NAS and SAN to be successful as data storage solutions, vendors must focus on the business issues faced by users and adapt NAS and SAN around addressing those issues. The panel, sponsored by Eurologic Systems, a leading worldwide provider of innovative, high-performance data storage solutions for storage area networking, featured data storage industry leaders from five companies, including: Michael Alvarado, Product Marketing Manager, Network Appliance (1) A specialized device for use on a network. For example, Web servers, cache servers and file servers can be implemented as general-purpose computers with the appropriate software or as network appliances, which are computers dedicated to a single function and cannot do anything David Anderson David Anderson may refer to:
Clodoaldo Barrera, Director of Strategy for Storage Systems in the Storage Systems Division of IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) Dr. Karl Schubert, Director of Architecture and Advanced Technologies in the Storage Division of Dell Computer Robert Selinger, Chief Technologist and Vice President, Adaptec James Porter James Porter can refer to:
The panelists agreed that progress has been made in SAN- and NAS-enabling technologies over the past year. In addition to exponential improvements in data transfer speeds, rudimentary capabilities in interoperability and data management are now available. Dr. Karl Schubert, of Dell Computer, stated, "The first generation of SANs are here today. We've achieved rudimentary heterogeneity het·er·o·ge·ne·i·ty n. The quality or state of being heterogeneous. heterogeneity the state of being heterogeneous. ." David Anderson, of Seagate Technology, agreed. He said, "The industry is making concerted efforts. It's refreshing to see all the vendors working together in a way they never have before to make it work." Panelists agreed, however, that these achievements are only a first step. Dr. Schubert stated that vendors tend to over focus on components. "What we're delivering doesn't necessarily match up to what the customer needs," he said. Instead, the focus must be on meeting the customer's needs by helping them to resolve their business issues. Michael Alvarado of Network Appliance, said, "We need to look at the value proposition. We need to go beyond the technology issues and focus on resolving the customers' business issues." The panelists believe that to make NAS and SAN take off, key customer-focused issues still must be addressed. To succeed, NAS and SAN must provide well-established standards and plug-and-play interoperability. More important, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Clodoaldo Barrera of IBM, is the whole area of data management software. He said, "There is still a mountain of software that has to be written." The panelists agreed that the advent of NAS and SAN necessarily changes the concept of data storage. The focus becomes less of an issue of devices and more an issue of networking. Robert Selinger of Adaptec, said, "For the storage industry, it's an evolution, the convergence of storage and networking." As a networking concept, the role of data management software becomes vital to the successful implementation of storage networking. Robert Selinger said, "Data management will be the predominant theme for users. How do I manage the data?" In general, the panelists agreed that for NAS and SAN to set the direction of the data storage industry, vendors must set a sustained roadmap of customer value. To achieve this value, the industry must achieve and provide a set of well-established industry standards, interoperability, and comprehensive data management capabilities. About Eurologic Systems Founded in 1988, Eurologic Systems is a leading worldwide provider of innovative data storage solutions for the file server and vertical application markets. The company's comprehensive family of high-performance data storage solutions integrates the most advanced technologies and supports the leading industry standards. The company promotes this philosophy by maintaining strategic partnerships with leading component manufacturers. Eurologic's family of data storage products is used in a wide range of applications, including electronic commerce, film and video, medical imaging, publishing, and telecommunications. The company markets its products through original equipment manufacturers and vertical market channel partners. An ISO (1) See ISO speed. (2) (International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland, www.iso.ch) An organization that sets international standards, founded in 1946. The U.S. member body is ANSI. 9002 certified company, Eurologic has offices in Europe and North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. and offers on-site support around the globe. Eurologic has achieved consistent profitability since the company's founding and presently employs more than 250 people worldwide. For more information, please visit Eurologic's web site at www.eurologic.com. Editor's Note Editor's Note (foaled in 1993 in Kentucky) is an American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. He was sired by 1992 U.S. Champion 2 YO Colt Forty Niner, who in turn was a son of Champion sire Mr. Prospector and out of the mare, Beware Of The Cat. Trained by D. : Eurologic and the Eurologic logo are registered trademarks of Eurologic Systems. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion