Features - Storage Innovations:

SNIA READIES STORAGE MANAGEMENT DEMO

The Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA), an international organization dedicated to delivering storage networking architectures, education, and solutions for the IT community, will unveil a breakthrough demonstration of storage area network SAN management interoperability at the October Storage Networking World (SNW) conference, www.snwusa.com, in Orlando, Florida October 27-30.

The SNIA will demonstrate CIM-SAN-1, a SAN managed through a single management backbone built on Common Information Model (CIM) and Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM) technology.

The CIM-SAN-1 demonstration will be part of the SNW Interoperability and Solutions Demo in the "Managing Your Storage Network" solution area. The SNW demonstration will leverage the success of the first plugfest for CIM-SAN-1 in July, during which vendors collaborated at the SNIA Technology Center in Colorado Springs to build a multi-vendor SAN comprised of CIM-managed HBA's, switches, routers, libraries, and arrays. A second plugfest for CIM-SAN-1 is scheduled for October 1-4 at the SNIA Technology Center and will involve the integration of multiple management clients with storage networking devices that comprise a multi-vendor SAN configuration.

"Groundbreaking demonstrations like CIM-SAN-1 and the supporting plugfests enable SNIA members to work towards and achieve the goal of simplifying storage management for users," said Brad Stamas, chairman of the SNIA. "This initiative also combines the efforts and successes of many SNIA groups, including multiple Technical Work Groups and the Interoperability Committee." The CIM-SAN-1 demonstration introduces technology for SAN management interoperability based on the Bluefin specification, which was recently adopted by the SNIA as the initial development focus for the organization's Storage Management Initiative (SMI). Included in the Bluefin specification are security, locking, and discovery features for SAN management. The SNIA is using Bluefin to develop a standard management interface to be adopted by vendors for use in their products. Once the standard has been developed, the SNIA will also work closely with end users on specific configurations to enable ease of adoption and integration into their existing networks. The rapid progress of CIM-SAN-1 is due to the active involvement of the SNIA member participants in the plugfests, including: AppIQ, BMC Software, Brocade, Computer Associates, Crossroads Systems Inc, EMC, Hitachi Data Systems, HP, IBM Corporation, INRANGE Technologies, InterSAN Inc, LSI Logic Storage Systems, Prisa Networks, QLogic, Quantum Corporation, Sun Microsystems, and VERITAS Software.

In addition to the CIM-SAN-1 demonstration at Storage Networking World, the SNIA will also host a presentation and panel titled "The SNIA Storage Management Initiative and CIM-SAN-1" on October 29.

Where: Storage Networking World Fall 2002, Renaissance Orlando Hotel, Orlando, FL

When: October 27-30, 2002

How to Attend: Register for the SNW conference at www.snwusa.com.

About the SNIA

The Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) is a not-for-profit organization, made up of over 300 companies and individuals spanning virtually the entire storage industry. SNIA members share a common goal: to set the pace of the industry by ensuring that storage networks become efficient, complete and trusted solutions across the IT community. To this end the SNIA is uniquely committed to delivering standards, education and services that will propel open storage networking solutions into the broader market. For information, contact the SNIA at 650-949-6720 or via e-mail at executivedirector@snia.org, or visit the SNIA Website at www.snia.org.

About the SNIA Technology Center

The SNIA Technology Center is an advanced classroom and laboratory facility for end users, storage integrators, and SNIA members to test and integrate enterprise storage systems, platforms, and applications utilizing networked storage infrastructures. The facility, located in Colorado Springs, CO, showcases the development and testing of advanced networking storage technologies that require interoperability of multi-vendor storage products. For further information, contact the SNIA Technology Center at 719-884-8902 or via email at tcd@snia.org, or visit the Website at www.snia.org/tech--center.

Contact: Storage Networking Industry Association, Max Shu, 719-884-8903, max@snia.org.