Bob,
I am a fibre channel techie, and the Connectrix is certainly a fibre channel switch, just like those sold by Brocade, Ancor and Vixel. It is definitely not an arbitrated loop hub. As far as the term fabric, you and others need to understand that the word "fabric" connotes adherence to the ANSI standard that defines FC switches. It is not a marketing term. Cascading, multi-staging, and mesh are all marketing terms used to describe various topologies that could be used to make up a FC network infrastructure of switches, hubs, routers, hosts and devices.
Any limitations on use are in all likelihood imposed by EMC in order to protect their customers from untested configurations, and the potentially disasterous consequences. Is this wise? Their customers seem to accept it. EMC has always done this with all of their hardware, both to protect themselves and their customers. Let's not forget that EMC is renowned for their software, too. I don't doubt that somewhere EMC has software for the Connectrix that will enable meshed switching when their market starts demanding it. That should start happening soon, as SANs make inroads past the visionaries and into the pragmatists.
EMC doesn't sell an 18 or 16 port that I know of either. They probably reference-sell McData's little switches when necessary. Those switches are, or were, OEMed from Brocade. Additionally, with their DG acquisition, they have another route to fulfillment if they need a smaller switch, based on that company's prior agreements with Brocade, Ancor, and Gadzoox.
My point is that EMC has a large switch that they sell today. Selling it today means that they have undergone man-years of interoperability testing, and hence, can sell it with confidence. I still can't find a reason -- technical, sales, marketing, or otherwise -- for EMC to switch horses to another switch OEM, "director-class" or otherwise. I have no doubts that Connectrix switches will contain all the bells and whistles needed to compete when EMC determines that their market needs it.
As for conference calls and sales offices, if I were CEO of a company wanting to do business with EMC, I would do everything I could to make that happen. That's just smart business.
buck, who apologizes for his long-windedness |
