Future Of The Storage Industry In The E-commerce Era - Questions and Answers

Computer Technology Review, Sept, 2000

Editor's Note: CTR presents the following chat transcript as a reflection of the kinds of questions your customers have about storage. SearchStorage (www. searchstorage.com) moderated the chat.

Moderator: Welcome to our Live Expert Q&A Session with Mark Ferelli, editor-in-chief of Computer Technology Review We are taking questions about his views on storage industry trends. If you have a question, please type it in the bottom of your screen and press Enter.

Q: How far off is true SAN interoperability?

Mark Ferelli: Closer than ever, now that the real hang-up--switch interoperability--has been settled and submitted for standards approval. It also handles the zoning challenges. It took the switch vendors long enough, but they made it.

Q: Do you think serverless backup is truly the "killer app" of the SAN?

Mark Ferelli: At this point, backup is certainly the central application of SAN.

Q: What do you consider the top three breakthrough storage technologies of the '90s and the top three you're predicting for this decade?

Mark Ferelli: The top three breakthrough storage technologies...how long is a piece of string? One would be the evolution of storage architectures, such as SAN and NAS. Another would be the storage application of high speed interfaces, such as Fibre Channel and IP. Finally, I think the concept of serverless backup is tremendously important. Upcoming, look for the improved use of IP in storage connectivity, an improved, post-GMR head for hard disks, and improved tape storage speeds and feeds.

Q: Do you see a trend developing whereby more and more companies are building their IT architecture around their storage product rather than adding it on later?

Mark Ferelli: I think that computing stands on three legs: processing, connectivity, and storage. You're right: storage has been historically an afterthought. Not any more: storage is now the biggest investment component in computing. It's not the center of planning, but it's now an important, well- considered element in planning. Add the fact that vendors are more and more adopting a partnership model for selling, and you have storage properly considered in the mix.

Q: What effect will storage as a utility (the SSP model) have on the industry?

Mark Ferelli: The SSP is a new breed of cat: both a consumer and producer of storage products and services. The availability of storage services will push enterprise IT folks into a "make or buy" decision on elements of their storage vision. The critical question is basically: "How much do I feel comfortable in outsourcing?"

Q: I hear a lot of talk about Fibre Channel. How do you see it affecting future installations of storage systems?

Mark Ferelli: FC has done fantastic service as an enabling technology for storage area networking. The usefulness of the technology in terms of speed and reliability are unquestioned. But as a newer technology, the price is still high...about $800 per port. The future depends on cost and development issues with Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, and Infiniband.

Q: How attractive is the segment (e-biz and e-commerce) in this era of Startups? Are they willing to invest in Enterprise solutions? How do you approach them?

Mark Ferelli: E-commerce has become a very hot application for storage. Right now, e-commerce solutions are not really enterprise level...I think that they are more of a departmental solution. Actually, it would behoove the departments to learn a bit from their IT department colleagues down the hall.

Q: What new standards for storage can we expect in the coming months?

Mark Ferelli: Standards are like ice cream: they come in different flavors. De facto standards, standards from half a dozen standards bodies, official and otherwise. Sorry, but your guess would be just as good as mine.

Q: What type of storage going forward will be most desired by e-commerce companies in light of the environment on Wall Street now that they must be profitable?

Mark Ferelli: In the short term, it is certainly Network Attached Storage: NAS. Forecommerce, speed is of the essence. NAS is easy to install, easy to use and a market sleeper that is likely to soar with eagles.

Q: Regarding the question about how far SAN interoperability is - does that mean next year, two years from now or roughly when we will see common solutions available?

Mark Ferelli: Certainly within the next calendar year.. .keep an eye on next Comdex.

Q: What do you predict will be the cost of storage a year from now (GB/MO)?

Mark Ferelli: I'm sorry, but accurately predicting costs is well-nigh impossible...there are just too many variables. Availability of materials, production yields, all of this makes a difference. And what happens if some aggressive marketer sacrifices profitability for market share? Again, your guess is as good as mine.

Q: How long will it take to get to a consensus on standards for SAN, or will there be more than one standard?

Mark Ferelli: It is likely that there will be more than one standard as SAN software matures and SAN interconnectivity settles into its various camps.