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NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: ANNE SKAMAROCK on
STORAGE 01/23/02 Today's focus: Come on, iSCSI Dear Wincenty Kaminski, In this issue: * Why must we wait any longer for iSCSI? * Featured reader resource _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter sponsored by BMC PROTECT YOUR DATA ASSETS. CLICK HERE. How prepared are you for a data loss disaster? Find out what your risks are and learn how to implement a cost- efficient recovery strategy to protect your data assets. Don't let that tiny user-error turn into a significant application outage! Download BMC Software's FREE Recovery Solutions white paper now! http://nww1.com/go/3829358a.html _______________________________________________________________ TECHNOLOGY INSIDER: STREAMING MEDIA Streaming media is taking off as a corporate communications and training tool. We take you behind the scenes of the technology, showing you best practices, case studies and a feature on the individual streaming media champions leading the charge. Check it out at http://nww1.com/go/ad237.html _______________________________________________________________ Today's focus: Come on, iSCSI By Anne Skamarock Well, following on from my rant last week about technology that is taking much longer than expected to come to market, the discussion would not be complete without mentioning iSCSI. Like InfiniBand, we have been hearing about iSCSI for the last two years and have seen a plethora of demos at trade shows with little available in the market. We have heard the messages and seen the "marketecture" slides targeted at the folks who are feeling the pain of trying to manage the ever-growing volumes of data/storage but don't have the money or the expertise to invest in another network infrastructure. So they may have to upgrade their current network from 10/100 Base-T to a fiber network capable of supporting 1G bit/sec traffic as well as scale to 10G bit/sec when that is available. But they were going to do that anyway. So, "Where's the beef?" Today, there are iSCSI products out there, like IBM's 200i, iSCSI storage subsystem, and Cisco's SN 5420 Storage Router, that are well positioned as leaders when the market takes off. So what are they (and the market in general) waiting for? Well, for one, companies who would participate in the iSCSI market are waiting for IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) ratification of the iSCSI standard, "due in early 2002." Ratification of this specification will take some of the guesswork out of implementing the iSCSI protocol. This is important for reducing interoperability issues that can arise. Another thing the market is waiting for is host bus adapters (HBA) that take most, if not all, the TCP/IP network processing off the CPU and into the HBA. These HBAs handle the packaging and unpackaging of the data as it moves into and out of the application servers. Having this processing take place in the HBA by specialized hardware and firmware will increase the performance of the iSCSI solution. However, it is important to note that HBAs are NOT required to implement an iSCSI solution using native iSCSI disk subsystems today. Finally, the market is waiting for volumes to increase to the point where the costs associated with the HBAs and storage subsystems, as well as IP routers are reduced. If the iSCSI market is targeted at departments and mid-sized businesses, the cost structures must fit with those markets, especially after the economic dip many companies experienced last year. It's been mighty quiet over the last four months with regards to iSCSI. It's time to start up the band, once again and get those products out to the market! _______________________________________________________________ To contact Anne Skamarock: Anne Skamarock is an analyst with Enterprise Management Associates (http://www.enterprisemanagement.com). She has worked with networked storage for the last 15 years and is currently focused on the storage practice within EMA. She can be reached at mailto:askamarock@enterprisemanagement.com _______________________________________________________________ NW Fusion's Buy IT provides the resources you need to make better buying decisions. Post your IT needs anonymously and FREE! Search our directory of qualified providers, review company White Papers, and select the right provider. Buy IT helps get your projects done right. Try it today! http://nwfusion.newmediary.com/nww120601nwltrb _______________________________________________________________ RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS Comdex - EMC and NetApp agree on iSCSI and little else IDG News Service, 11/15/01 http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2001/1115cdsmack.html iSCSI enables Ethernet storage nets Network World, 11/12/01 http://www.nwfusion.com/news/tech/2001/1112tech.html Vendors tout InfiniBand, iSCSI wares Network World, 11/12/01 http://www.nwfusion.com/archive/2001/127338_11-12-2001.html Comdex - Adaptec drives iSCSI deeper into storage IDG News Service, 11/12/01 http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2001/1112adaptec.html _______________________________________________________________ FEATURED READER RESOURCE Network World Fusion's Net.Worker site Whether your company is growing larger or scaling back, corporate managers are looking for ways to cut costs while retaining and recruiting star employees. One smart solution - at least on paper - is to let some employees work from home. Network World's Net.Worker Web site bridges the gap between the telework concept and the hardware, software and services needed to make it happen. We bring you news and reviews, sound advice and keen insight into the technologies and solutions you need to manage a remote and mobile workforce. Visit http://www.nwfusion.com/net.worker/index.html _______________________________________________________________ May We Send You a Free Print Subscription? You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered at your fingertips each day. Now, extend your knowledge by receiving 51 FREE issues to our print publication. Apply today at http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/nl _______________________________________________________________ SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World e-mail newsletters, go to: http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/news/scripts/notprinteditnews.asp To unsubscribe from promotional e-mail go to: http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/ep To change your e-mail address, go to: http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/news/scripts/changeemail.asp Subscription questions? Contact Customer Service by replying to this message. Have editorial comments? Write Jeff Caruso, Newsletter Editor, at: mailto:jcaruso@nww.com For advertising information, write Jamie Kalbach, Director of Online Sales, at: mailto:jkalbach@nww.com Copyright Network World, Inc., 2002 ------------------------ This message was sent to: vkamins@enron.com
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