Stodgy's Demise

Whoever said networked storage is the domain of the old-fashioned was just plain wrong. In this corner of IT, the unexpected scenario is getting to be the likeliest one, and anyone who thinks stodginess is the storage way will be left behind fast.

Consider what happened when Frank Governale, VP of operations for CBS News, went looking to replace videotape storage for his organization. (See CBS News Ices Tape.) Two years ago, when he wanted a disk-based storage system with RAID 3, mirrored RAID, automatic failover, and password security, no one was ready. So instead of waiting on the big storage suppliers, he turned to Avid Technology and other makers of video editing systems packaged with storage.

Governale settled on Avid, which delivered CBS an Ethernet-based system called ISIS, albeit a bit later than originally required. CBS plans to replace more Fibre Channel systems with ISIS.

Lesson learned? Storage needs are growing faster than the ability of CIOs to hold off buying. Suppliers that aren't ready will be left behind.

Maybe that's why EMC is so eager to mine demand for small and medium-sized business storage. (See EMC Heads Downmarket.) Here again, the market's moving fast and the fruit's hanging low. Despite its deeply entrenched identity as an enterprise player, EMC is willing to strip down a bit and mix it up with the small fry to grab its fair share (or a bit more).Trouble is, EMC can't quite conceal its pedigree, and hiding behind its new low-end products are more economical versions of the real thing. Will EMC be left behind? The jury's out.

Meanwhile, other market areas show signs of ripening content-addressable storage and virtualization are just two examples. Here again, newcomers could nab big business if established players hold out. (See CAS at a Crossroads.)

In this vein, watch out for companies like the one being started by the founders of Cisco's storage "spin-in," Andiamo. With Cisco's storage business now established, a team comprising Mario Mazzola, Luca Cafiero, Prem Jain, and Soni Jiandani have reportedly founded a startup called Nuova Impressa. (See Andiamo Vets Go 'Nuova'.) And word has it they're working on a virtualization project in the storage networking space – at the intersection of storage, networking, and computing.

Clearly, storage is no safe place for slowpokes, and the pace is picking up. The stodgy will end up flatter than roadkill.

— Mary Jander, Site Editor, Byte and SwitchOrganizations mentioned in this article: