Craig, Cha2, Thread,
Re: Storage Area Networks (SANs) and associated communications techs -
I recently posted the following article in the Gilder thread for those
threadsters there who were discussing storage area networks (SANs) and
Fiber Channel prospects:
Message 10025829
Today, very large flows between SAN nodes (Servers, Hosts, hubs, switches, disc arrays, silos, etc.) are limited by very short in house distance constraints. This is about to change through the enabling properties of optically-based systems using DWDM, and a number of discreet protocols that have been developed in recent years to overcome those distance limitations.
Effectively, for those whose needs justify it, and who can afford it, distances will be neutralized, effectively.
It's called transparency, as Mr. Fun has alluded to it in the past, and as I mentioned here several weeks ago. Some of the other emerging protocols and emerging operating considerations to be aware of in this space are found in the links below.
-------------------
The "Future I/O Alliance" home page:
futureio.org
Future I/O Alliance participants page:
futureio.org
An Intel White Paper on Next Generation I/O (NGIO):
intel.dk
...and a rather interesting web-based presentation from Intel on NGIO
Servers:
http://www.intel.dk/design/servers/future_server_io/documents/serverio/slide001.htm
This last one, the NGIO Server presentation, is done rather well, I
thought. It serves as a good refresher, or primer for those who do not
delve into this sort of thing every day. It demonstrates the various platform
shifts and their attendant storage requirements beginning with the Main
Frames back in 1980, right up through the PC revolution, then into today,
and then out into the Year 2003 time frame. Enjoy!
Regards, Frank Coluccio |
