Industry Leaders Join to Drive Open Storage Network Standards
LOUISVILLE, COLO. (April 5) BUSINESS WIRE -April 5, 1999--With
unprecedented cooperation, the leading manufacturers of storage
solutions announced their support and cooperation for the development
of standards for multi-vendor storage networks (SANs).
To that end, the companies have agreed to participate with the Storage
Networking Industry Association (SNIA), a non-profit organization
comprised of more than 77 companies and individuals in the storage
industry.
The group includes computer-system and storage-system vendors -- Compaq
Computer Corp., Dell Computer Corp., EMC Corp., Hewlett-Packard
Company, IBM Corp., Quantum Corp., Sequent Computer Systems Inc.,
StorageTek, and Sun Microsystems Inc. -- and storage networking and
software vendors -- Brocade Communications Systems Inc., Legato Systems
Inc., and VERITAS Software Corp. The companies have agreed to work
cooperatively and to participate with the Storage Networking Industry
Association (SNIA) to accelerate the evolution and acceptance of
multi-vendor storage networks (SANs).
The 12 companies will submit a prioritized list of work efforts for
SNIA's consideration and have pledged to supply required resources. The
companies will delineate key capabilities and recommend SNIA work
efforts to further realize benefits of storage networking. Work efforts
will address areas such as improved management and mechanisms to share
storage and data. Support for SNIA from the 12 companies could take the
form of staff power, lab equipment and funds to hire program managers.
"Standards efforts can work quickly when the participants are
motivated. The critical mass and focus of this group confirms the
required motivation," said Nick Allen, vice president and research
director for Gartner Group. "This co-operative bodes well for the
future of SANs and for users getting products that conform to open
interfaces and it will help speed the interoperability process along."
"SNIA has become the organization that management professionals look to
for guidance. This new emphasis by the key leaders of the storage
industry will give SNIA the boost that it needs to rapidly author and
drive to implementation open standards," said Jerry Lynch, director of
information systems at Online Computer Library Center (OCLC). "As a
customer using UNIX, NT and mainframe systems, along with storage area
networks and equipment from multiple vendors, I am eager to see this
improved support and cooperation to ensure my freedom of choice."
Creating Standards through an Industry Forum
SNIA members share a common goal: to ensure that storage networks
become efficient, complete and trusted solutions across the IT
community. SNIA is uniquely committed to delivering standards,
education, and services that will propel open storage networking
solutions into the broader market. The full SNIA membership continues
to set the organization's agenda and priorities. However, the companies
involved in today's announcement will bring forward suggested work
efforts in the form of recommendations.
There are a number of unrealized benefits of storage networking that
the companies believe SNIA can accelerate. While SANs are capable of
connecting many components, there is need for better management and
mechanisms to share resources. Creating a standard to share nodes on a
SAN is a near-term objective for the nine companies. The consortium of
companies believe SNIA can deliver significant results by mid-year.
Unique in the computer industry, SNIA is driving the standards for
storage area networks so storage can become as easy to use as a common
utility such as telephone or electric service. All of the companies
involved in today's announcement have agreed to abide by the standards
set forth by SNIA to make standards-based storage area networks a
reality. TRADEMARKS: Product or company names mentioned are used for
identification purposes only, and may be trademarks of their respective
owners.
Industry Leaders Join to Drive
Open Storage Network Standards
Quote Sheet Systems Vendors Compaq Computer
Corporation
"We absolutely believe that SNIA is the right industry forum to create
customer value through the sharing of open interfaces and
specifications, regardless of vendor approach," said Darren Thomas,
vice president, Multi-Vendor Storage Business Unit, Storage Products
Division, Compaq. "The ultimate goal is to make storage a shared
resource throughout an enterprise. SNIA's standards-based approach for
storage area networks ensures greater interoperability and faster
solutions deployment for our customers." Dell Computer Corp.
"Working together to drive industry standards around storage area
networks will accelerate their adoption and prove beneficial to
customers that do not want to be locked-in to a proprietary
architecture," said Karl Schubert, director of Storage Architecture at
Dell. "To this end, Dell strongly supports the efforts of SNIA." EMC
Corp.
"SNIA's increased focus on development of open standards holds
significant promise for our customers and goes hand in hand with EMC's
ongoing efforts to provide the broadest possible interoperability in
the SAN environment," said Don Swatik, EMC's vice president of Product
Management. "EMC will continue to drive for the rapid adoption of open
standards. As a longtime board member and active SNIA participant, we
are committed to full participation in this endeavor." Hewlett-Packard
Company
"The reality is, customers have numerous storage devices from multiple
suppliers and don't want to worry about individual proprietary
management solutions," said David Scott, worldwide marketing manager of
HP's Enterprise Storage Business Unit. "HP is dedicated to developing
standards for managing storage area networks and the collaborative
efforts of SNIA and its member companies provide a vehicle to make this
a reality." IBM Computer Corp.
"IBM is committed to providing technical expertise, intellectual
property, and financial resources to SNIA," said Clod Barrera, director
of Storage Systems Strategy for IBM. "Through this cooperative effort,
SNIA can develop an effective framework for the management of network
area storage networks." Sequent Computer Systems Inc.
"Sequent, as a provider of UNIX/NT mixed-mode environments, recognizes
the tremendous benefits that heterogeneous Fibre Channel SANs offer
customers in terms of performance and flexibility for future technology
deployment. For an implementation to be successful, the
interoperability of all the elements will be required. The best way to
achieve this is through the development of and adherence to open
standards. Broad support for the SNIA effort is critical to our ability
as an industry to deliver these benefits," said Glenn Sullivan, senior
product marketing manager for Fibre Channel, Sequent Computer Systems
Inc. StorageTek
"We have been working diligently to promote industry standards and
interoperability," said Walter Hinton, chief strategist of StorageTek.
"This aggressive approach with SNIA is going to make a huge difference
in bringing intelligent and integrated SANs to customers without
forcing vendor lock-in." Sun Microsystems Inc.
"Open standards are the most effective way to move the industry forward,
" remarked Jeff Allen, vice president of marketing, Sun Microsystems
Network Storage Division. "Interoperability can only be achieved
through a united front and a common goal. Sun will work together with
the members of SNIA to achieve an open standard independent of any
specific vendor or operating system." Networking and Software
Companies Brocade Communications Systems Inc.
"Brocade fully endorses this multi-vendor initiative to drive open
standards," commented Greg Reyes, CEO and president, Brocade
Communications Systems Inc. "The open approach to industry standards
sponsored by SNIA is fundamental in providing customers with the
flexibility they need to deploy robust SAN solutions." Legato Systems
Inc.
"SNIA has the right charter, has an efficient set of operational
systems, and has the broad support of the storage and networking
industries," stated Nora Denzel, senior vice president, product
operations, Legato Systems Inc. "Legato believes that SNIA is the right
industry forum to create fundamentally new customer value in this
exciting new market." VERITAS Software
"Within an open interoperable environment, there is ample opportunity
for vendors to distinguish their technology, cost-of-ownership,
reliability and services. Providing effective enabling technology to
satisfy the customer vision of multi-vendor interoperable SANs will
stimulate total market growth and in the end benefit us all," said Fred
van den Bosch, executive vice president of engineering for VERITAS
Software.
Editorial Contacts:
For Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.
Donna Wiss
Trainer Public Relations
(303) 751-6011
donna@trainerpr.com
or
For Compaq Computer Corp.
Karen Quatromoni
(508) 467-4120
karen.quatromoni@compaq.com
or
For Dell Computer Corp.
Letty Ledbetter
(512) 723-7818
lettyledbetter@dell.com
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