This was an interesting article about the future trend for storage networks. It explains why the storage intelligent switch will have a significant impact on enterprise storage network designs.
Embedded intelligence (w/virtualization technology) combined with high level enterprise storage management software is one approach the industry is working on. This approach provides the capability for any vendor's switch to work in the enterprise. Therefore, IMO the switch becomes the commodity but the intelligence embedded around the switch becomes the value added.
Dave Stevens, Rhapsody's founder will be one of the key management talents coming to Brocade. Notice that he has extensive background in this new storage (software) design as a result of his work with Veritas engineers and their source code.
EKS
SAN switches get smarter
By Charles T. Clark, Storage Magazine, June 2002
(http://www.i-tech.com/Storage%20Info%20Center/indnews38.php)
Embedded intelligence
From the article:"...If a user wanted to run one of these software packages, they would also have to buy the same vendor's hardware - becoming locked into that vendor. Specifically, Veritas will provide a special software package consisting of its volume manager, file system, and NAS and SAN appliance software. The switch vendors, including Pirus Networks, Rhapsody Networks, and Troika Networks, will produce a variety of solutions, according to Soderbery. He says these products will offer virtualization capabilities and the ability to handle both file and block-storage traffic...."
"...Dave Stevens, the vice president of business development for Rhapsody Networks, one of the participants in the Veritas-powered program, is much more involved than just being an OEM for Veritas software. "The Veritas-powered program is taking Veritas source code, and modifying and embedding it into a hardware platform," says Stevens. He adds that his company will produce unique, high performance products for the SAN infrastructure with the embedded Veritas code...."
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Here is another article that lists the challenges for Brocade going forward.
My biggest concern (as an investor) is the time lag between acquisition and product re-release. It appears that all the prior work Brocades has done on V Switch will be trashed.
EKS
Internal woes rock Brocade, but Rhapsody buy expected to help
By Kevin Komiega, News Writer
26 Nov 2002, SearchStorage.com
(http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid5_gci866009,00.html?Exclusive=True)
From the article: "...The holes left in Brocade's upper management are soon to be filled by staff that came on board through the Rhapsody acquisition. Duplessie said Rhapsody's founder Dave Stevens, president and CEO Mike Klayko, and Tom Buiochi, vice president for marketing, will slide into the vacant positions.
"I think [Brocade CEO Greg] Reyes needed to clean out some "yes men" and get ready to face the next battle. I don't think [the] Rhapsody [acquisition] had anything to do with this decision, but if it did, Brocade picked up some really good talent in the exchange," Duplessie said. "All in all, I'd say Brocade picked up more than it lost."..." |
