Given the attention now focused on FC and SANS Infostor magazine should become a must read over the next yr.?
www2.infostor.com
If any regulars are subscribers please keep the rest of us up to date.............
As marketing professionals, part of your job is to identify trends and formulate business plans to capitalize on those trends. As part of this process, you may pay big bucks to the large research firms, or to the growing number of smaller, storage-specific research outfits. Also, you're reading InfoStor to get the latest news and analysis on those trends, as well as in-depth technical features to help you understand the nuts and bolts. When we launched InfoStor nearly two years ago, we identified a number of key trends that would reshape IT professionals' approach to storage, while providing lucrative opportunities for storage vendors, integrators and VARs. Those trends include the shift toward Fibre Channel, storage area networks (SANs), and network-attached storage (NAS). These technologies have serious implications for all of our product coverage areas, including RAID arrays, controllers, adapters, disk drives, tape and optical products, and storage management software.
In the September Issue:
We continue to focus on those trends and technologies as evidenced in the editorial content of our September issue. For example, the special report in our September issue focuses on LAN-free tape backup, which is typically implemented over a dedicated Fibre Channel SAN. LAN-free backup has been described as the first "killer app" for SANs, and it represents a huge opportunity for vendors and integrators alike. If you have a LAN-free backup solution, or some relevant input on the subject, contact managing editor Heidi Biggar at heidib@pennwell.com.
The September issue also has a wealth of feature articles on Fibre Channel, SAN and NAS. One feature explains why ¥ and how ¥ NAS and SAN are complementary, not competing, technologies. This should resolve an issue that many of you have struggled with recently. Some segments of the industry have pitted NAS and SAN against each other. This has led to confusion in the customer community. In reality, NAS can provide an excellent standalone solution, a complementary addition to SANs, or a smooth migration path to SANs.
Other features in the September issue address the issues of SAN management (what's here, what's not); the advantages of running multiple protocols over Fibre Channel (SCSI, IP, VI); and a look at what's happening with the pieces of the SAN puzzle that are still missing. (See page 3 of this newsletter for a complete rundown of our scheduled September content.)
In September, we'll also launch a series of articles on the trend toward storage outsourcing, which promises to be as hot a trend as applications outsourcing via application service providers. Whether you're a vendor or a systems integrator, let me know if, when, and how you plan to participate in this emerging opportunity.
Some of these new "storage service providers" claim that, within five years most IT organizations will not own any storage equipment; rather, they will rely on off-site SSPs to provide storage as a "utility." If this trend comes to fruition, it would have far-reaching ramifications on the way both vendors and channel professionals market and sell products.
Speaking of integrators, in September we'll also launch a series of mini-profiles on an emerging channel: storage-centric systems integrators. If you're an integrator that specializes in storage, send me an email with your Web address and we'll consider covering you as part of this series. Although the general trend in the computer industry is towards direct sales, storage has become so important and complex that our industry will increasingly depend on the channel to provide soup-to-nuts solutions. And in many ways, the new storage-centric systems integrators are better equipped to address this task than are large integrators such as Anderson Consulting.
In the October issue:
In the COMDEX Fall Preview edition we return to one of our more popular series of special reports: Early Adopters of Fibre Channel and SANs. These are case studies that look at the benefits-and pains-encountered in implementing SANs. We're focusing on integrator-user partnering solutions, so if you're an integrator and you've built a SAN or two, email me.
End users often don't have the time or talent to roll out complex architectures such as SANs, and they're hungry for storage specialists to take over that task. Work with us, and we'll give you the exposure you need to position your company as an expert in one of the most exciting shifts to hit the storage industry in years.
Publications need partners too...
In short, we've got some great editorial coverage coming up, and we want you to participate. Most of you have experienced PR staffs that know when and how to contact us. But feel free to contact us directly, either regarding upcoming editorial coverage possibilities, or just to let us know what you think about our coverage. Feel free to contact me, managing editor Heidi Biggar, or senior editor Zac Shess (zacharys@pennwell.com). InfoStor's readers are Enterprise IT professionals and storage integrators, but we've also become the publication of record for the storage vendor community. It's important that we work together to provide the best editorial product for our readers ¥ your customers.
It's show time
Our editorial staff relies heavily on trade shows and conferences to meet directly with vendors. After a slow summer, show time is ramping up this Fall. We'll have editors and writers at the following events, which provide a good opportunity for us to meet you face-to-face.
Siggraph '99, Los Angeles, August 8-13
Market Fusion: NAS and SAN Collection, Santa Barbara, October 5-7
Storage Networking Industry Association Fall Conference, Seattle, October 18-21
Fibre Channel Technologies Conference, San Jose, November 2-4
Comdex Fall, Las Vegas, November 15-19
See the Calendar listing in each issue of InfoStor for complete show schedules and contact information.
Once again, we're committed to maintaining our leadership position as the only monthly publication dedicated 100% to the storage industry. And, that requires a tight partnership with the entire storage community, so please call or email...we invite you to get involved with InfoStor.
Dave Simpson is the editor-in-chief of InfoStor. Prior to launching the publication in October 1997, he was a senior editor at a variety of trade publications, including Datamation, Client/Server Today, Digital News and Review, Systems Integration, and Mini-Micro Systems. He's been covering the storage industry for 16 years.
BONUS PROGRAMS FOR ADVERTISERS
Special Corporate Profile Advertorial
Beginning with the September Issue, all advertisers who contract for 6 pages or more will receive a FREE COMPANY PROFILE in InfoStor?s Corporate Profile Section.
The details are easy...begin your 6 page or more contract in September and your 4 color company Profile ad will appear within the next 6 months. Call today for more information.
September Advertisers Get 100 Bonus Qualified Leads
Your full page ad in September qualifies you for 100 key subscriber leads who buy, specify and/or recommend your individual products or technology.
Here is how it works:
Schedule your September ad in Infostor
Select the type of buyer you want from the reproduction of the Infostor Subscriber Qualification Form on the back page.
For more information fill out the form on the back page ¥ and tell us where to send your qualified leads.
INFOSTOR EDITORIAL HIGHLIGHTS FOR September..
Advertising Reservations close August 15th.
Special Report:
LAN-FREE TAPE BACKUP
LAN-free backup is being billed as the "killer app" for storage area networks (SANs) because it offloads bandwidth-constricting traffic from a production LAN to a dedicated SAN. Our report looks at existing solutions from hardware and software vendors, and how IT managers and storage integrators can implement this new technology to solve backup window problems..
FEATURED ARTICLES:
NAS AND SAN: COMPLEMENTARY, NOT COMPETING:
An in-depth look at the advantages of network-attached storage (NAS) and storage area network (SAN) architectures; how to migrate from NAS to SAN; and how to take advantage of both technologies in the same infrastructure.
SAN MANAGEMENT:
Now that Fibre Channel interoperability issues are being solved, SAN management is the next hurdle. This feature looks at what exists, and what's still needed.
MULTIPLE PROTOCOLS OVER FIBRE CHANNEL:
Although most Fibre Channel implementations use SCSI protocols, Fibre Channel can also accommodate other protocols such as IP and VI. This article explains the advantages of a multi-protocol interconnect.
FIBRE CHANNEL BRINGS SANITY TO STORAGE:
A tutorial on Fibre Channel basics and the business advantages.
THE VIRTUES OF VIRTUAL TAPE:
This feature explains how virtual tape works, and what the benefits are to IT departments.
OPINION:
Software vs. hardware-based failover
The case for storage outsourcing NEW PRODUCTS:
Disk drives, RAID, controllers, host bus adapters, tape and optical drives/libraries/media, software and more.
PLUS:
Case Studies
Lab Reviews
IN THE NEWS...
INFOSTOR
The only monthly computer publication directed exclusively to information storage professionals.
Exclusive professional readership among enterprise storage management and integrators.
100% editorial focus on storage issues and solutions.
Reach Storage Professionals Wherever They Work
Why just advertise in computer magazines that only reach Enterprise end-users, others that specialize in the Channel, or a third magazine for the OEM? You can also buy the one publication designed to deliver storage professionals from wherever they work.
INFOSTOR is the computer industry's only monthly publication dedicated entirely to data storage issues and solutions. INFOSTOR is not just the storage supplement, storage section, or issue of most computer magazines. Only INFOSTOR provides for the informational needs of storage professionals, and InfoStor will complement any storage advertising program.
We urge you to join other leading storage vendors and be counted among those advertising regularly in INFOSTOR
Thank you for your support.
Cordially,
Bob Poggi, Publisher
InfoStor Magazine
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