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Strategies & Market Trends : Gorilla and King Portfolio Candidates

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To: Thomas Mercer-Hursh who wrote (26769)	6/24/2000 10:29:00 PM
From: Greg Hull	Read Replies (1) of 54805

RE: CSCO/BRCD Thomas, <<Is the FSPF protocol the sort of thing whereby one can operate per the protocol and communicate, but if one "knows" the other end, then one can extend that protocol for enhanced throughput and/or features? I.e., might CSCO support the protocol to provide basic interoperability with all future equipment supporting that equipment, but still support enhanced functionality with some manufacturers and/or backward compatability with those manufacturers?>> I wish I knew, or at least had Sir Ares's argumentation skills. I'll give it a shot. Let's say Cisco and Brocade work out some superset of features. Every switch can talk to Cisco equipment with a basic vocabulary, but only Brocade knows the secret squirrel passwords. How does this benefit Cisco? Sun has committed to using Ancor's switches, and EMC has elected to supply their equipment with both Ancor and Brocade switches. For the sake of argument let's pretend EMC chooses to buy mostly Ancor switches. Now Cisco has less to offer the Sun and EMC customers. On the other hand, if Cisco wants to swallow storage networking into their sphere of influence, they may be working with Brocade because they have to work with someone to make progress quickly and Brocade is the big dog right now. The other FC equipment companies will probably fall in line. As LBJ might have said grab 'em by the Brocades and the other hubs and switches will follow. The only motivation I can see for Cisco to favor Brocade with an exclusive set of features is if they want to give Brocade an advantage. Why would Cisco care who sells more FC switches unless perhaps this is the beginning of a courtship? There have been rumors, fanned by Brocade, that Cisco would be interested in acquiring Brocade. Cisco can probably afford to wait and buy Brocade at a higher price if Brocade does become a Gorilla. As always we don't know what's being discussed behind closed doors. Some of us will continue to watch and see what transpires. Greg

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