The New QLogic (ANCR) Message Board

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : The New QLogic (ANCR)

QLGC 16.07

0.0%

Aug 24 5:00 PM EST

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next

To: Neil S who wrote (16413)	6/2/1998 1:47:00 PM
From: David Andersen	Read Replies (3) of 29386

I am a little confused and have some questions. I have been looking at the McData website and their corporate overview. From that site it appears that McData formed a relationship with IBM in 1994 to provide certain devices for the ESCON system. "Under a sole-source agreement reached in 1994, McDATA is IBM's exclusive supplier of ESCON Directors and Sysplex Timers. McDATA's current ESCON product line also includes repeaters, analyzers, and simulators." I assume that these ESCON devices are not fibre channel products. Is that correct? How does ESCON relate to SSA, if at all? The McData overview then continues to discuss various products. Two of those products are a full speed and a quarter speed fibre channel switch. (Is the full speed switch still the Brocade switch?) When discussing these switches there is no mention of an agreement with IBM regarding them. By contrast when the overview then discusses its directors: "The 9032 Model 5 and 9033 Model 4 ESCON Directors are high-speed, high-capacity, fiber optic switches that provide dynamic, real-time switching between mainframe channels and peripheral devices. The directors are sold exclusively through IBM. ÿÿÿ "The McDATA Model 2 Sysplex Timer synchronizes the TOD clocks of multiple host processors for proper sequencing. The timers are sold exclusively through IBM." These devices are clearly something developed for IBM. However, if they are not fibre channel what are they? What is the difference between an ESCON director and a switch? From all of this I am getting the impression (perhaps mistakenly) that IBM went to McData to develop devices for some proprietary IBM system (ESCON). That relationship was formalized during a time period when IBM had turned its back on fibre channel and was attempting to go it alone. Hence the development of SSA. As a consequence, the relationship was not about fibre channel products or fibre channel switches. Hopefully that means that IBM's business is not committed. (If McData were selling fibre channel switches to IBM I believe they would have said so in their overview as they did with their ESCON devices.) My concern is that ESCON may be so closely related to the SAN systems that IBM is currently developing that it would be logical for IBM to back to the same source. Can anybody comment?

Report TOU Violation

Share This Post

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next