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: Roy Sardina who wrote (14707)	2/26/1998 12:25:00 AM
From: Pigboy	Respond to of 29386

Roy, << The most difficult thing about making a swtiched fabric work is the HBA drivers (spoken from experience) it is what has delayed switch FC the most. >> Could you further elaborate on this for us novices? What exactly is HBA, too? Thanks for your opinion. << I think Ancor needs to work with Hub vendors to insure interoperability and help them penetrate smaller accounts. >> I thought that Brocade's and Ancor's switches were interoperable with Vixel, Gadzoox, and Emulex hubs (sorry, not sure on G2)? What am I missing? I believe that G2 makes only low end hubs like Emulex. Do they have plans on making a higher end hub (managed hub) that is competitive with Vixel's (ie. their Rapport 2000 Hub which vixel thinks is much better than everyone else's by far)? Is G2 going to make a switching hub too? It seems that Vixel has oems like sun...Is it G2s main strategy to plan on getting any? Do they already have any? Vixel sees themselves growing 2500% over a five year period, I believe...do you think this is an insane prediction? Thanks for any thoughts, all imho pigboy

To: Roy Sardina who wrote (14707)	2/26/1998 2:04:00 AM
From: Douglas Nordgren	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 29386

Roy, The merger wasn't their only smart move. It seems Vixel sold off engineering/fab to Herb Alpert (and the Tijuana Brass?) to concentrate on pushing FC boxes and splitting off Cielo to provide some focused competition to G2. Anybody in that company in MENSA?<g> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BOTHELL, Wash.-(BUSINESS WIRE)-Feb. 20, 1998-Vixel Corporation announced today that it sold the assets associated with its Broomfield, Colo. operation to a new company formed by investors including Mayfield Fund, Menlo Ventures and Herb Alpert. The separation of Vixel into two independent entities allows each to focus on its respective target markets. Under terms of the agreement, Vixel will continue to focus on its Fibre Channel solutions, while the new company, Cielo Communications Inc. will continue to provide gigabit-per-second physical layer solutions for the data communications and telecommunications markets. ''Cielo Communications has a state of the art fab for the production of high-speed vertical cavity lasers combined with world-class gigabit transceiver design expertise,'' said Greg Olbright, CEO of Vixel Corporation. ''Cielo's cutting edge technology will enable the broader adoption of affordable, high-speed fiberoptic interconnect solutions which Vixel's products utilize.''>> exchange2000.com

To: Roy Sardina who wrote (14707)	2/26/1998 12:00:00 PM
From: Bradley W. Price	Respond to of 29386

Roy, thanks for your reply. <The merger makes a ton of sense....I don't imagine this is the last deal you'll see. Selling just hubs, switches or HBA's is a tough standalone business.> I can verify that - just look at my account summaries from Schwab! Any time you care to make any announcements - we are all eyes. <So combining FC product families into one company, whether by joint marketing or merger, makes alot of sense to help win deals.> In my mind, I am trying to grasp the financial implications of such joint marketing or merger arrangements, and its impact on my current investment, as I am sure you are. ;) It seems that because everyone has fairly small market values, the mergers would be fairly easy to consumate. The joint marketing arrangement, maybe with a technology sharing provision would seem to me to be the most preferable arrangement from my position as an investor. I don't particularly want to see a combination of the lower margin hub business with the higher margin switches at Ancor if the switch business can be viable as a stand-alone entity. <The most difficult thing about making a swtiched fabric work is the HBA drivers (spoken from experience) it is what has delayed switch FC the most.> Hopefully, this will soon be behind us. The HBA vendors seem to be making good progress. <I think Ancor needs to work with Hub vendors to insure interoperability and help them penetrate smaller accounts.> Ancor has told me they believe interoperaability is very important as well. From my limited technical understanding of the T11 working group discussions though, there are still some challenges here for everyone. Do you personally have any timeframes for the resolution of these issues? In regards to the last portion of your statement, I don't believe Ancor is focused on smaller accounts at this time because they need to develop some continuous revenue streams to assure their survival. IMHO, bp