Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

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) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: iceburg who wrote (23264)	7/11/1999 9:54:00 AM
From: Bob Frasca	Respond to of 29386

Ice: I stand corrected but I would like to elaborate on my original thought a little. While my attempt to explain, in simple terms, the difference between software and firmware may have been technically incorrect, reprogramming the component would still be a lot more annoying than a simple application of a "service pack" or a "version" upgrade. I was simply trying to point out that Brocade's perceived "flexibility" because it's firmware is "easy to change" is something of a misnomer. While the firmware might be easy to change, rolling it out to the installed customer base is not nearly as simple as a software upgrade would be. It is my understanding that the use of firmware is usually reserved for applications that are perceived to be etched in stone, i.e. one that will never require a change due to it's inherent simplicity. Changes that do occur are usually related to an overall change in the product the firmware is supporting. Your example referring to firmware that is resident in the EEPROM of an ASIC actually supports this premise as memory resident functions are usually there to perform one specific task. I'm an applications guy currently working in the data warehousing arena. Even though SAN's will play a huge role in the future of data warehousing, this sort of thing isn't in my area of expertise. I welcome your comments.