Fibre Channel over Ethernet demonstrated

Network Architecture This newsletter is sponsored by NetApp ESG White Paper: Storage for Mid-Sized Enterprises Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) takes a close look at the storage landscape. Read this report on the challenges facing the mid-size enterprise companies as they evaluate implementing a storage network. Learn about the benefits and perceived inhibitors. Network World's Network Architecture Newsletter, 10/18/07 Fibre Channel over Ethernet demonstrated By Jeff Caruso I don't often write about storage networks, but they are becoming an increasingly large part of enterprise networking, a critical piece of your network architecture. Plus, now Ethernet (the technology underneath so much of the networked world) is becoming more prevalent in storage networks as well. From what I hear, this week's Storage Networking World in Dallas is showing proof of that, particularly with QLogic's demonstration of storage networking technology that uses Fibre Channel over Ethernet, or FCoE. QLogic is demonstrating what it calls "the first complete FCoE converged network," along with Nuova Systems and Network Appliance. Meanwhile, Emulex signed an agreement with Nuova to develop a family of FCoE products to debut next year. Nuova is a start-up that is 80% owned by Cisco. Storage Trends Explained Learn how IT shops can optimize their current storage systems with new tools and practices in this informative Webcast, Storage Trends and Options. Listen to industry experts explain the latest developments and address the hype surrounding future storage platforms. Click here for more information. Fibre Channel grew up as a storage-area network (SAN) technology, with an edge over Ethernet in that area, in part because of its speed and reliability. Fibre Channel is still a healthy market, but with 10 Gigabit Ethernet having caught up with Fibre Channel's current 8Gbps, some have called Fibre Channel's future into question. Fibre Channel over Ethernet would allow Fibre Channel SANs to run over an Ethernet network, using customers' current Fibre Channel software stacks. Bringing the two networks together has the potential to cut costs, since you'd be using the same switches, the same cabling infrastructure and so forth for both storage networking and everything else. FCoE was proposed in April by Nuova, QLogic and several other vendors, and it is expected to be completed next year.    What do you think? Post a comment on this newsletter

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Contact the author: Jeff Caruso is managing editor of online news for Network World. He oversees daily online news posting and newsletter editing, and writes the NetFlash daily news summary, the High-Speed LANs newsletter and the Voices of Networking newsletter. Contact him at jcaruso@nww.com This newsletter is sponsored by NetApp ESG White Paper: Storage for Mid-Sized Enterprises Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) takes a close look at the storage landscape. Read this report on the challenges facing the mid-size enterprise companies as they evaluate implementing a storage network. Learn about the benefits and perceived inhibitors. ARCHIVE Archive of the Network Architecture Newsletter. BONUS FEATURE IT PRODUCT RESEARCH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Get detailed information on thousands of products, conduct side-by-side comparisons and read product test and review results with Network World’s IT Buyer’s Guides. Find the best solution faster than ever with over 100 distinct categories across the security, storage, management, wireless, infrastructure and convergence markets. Click here for details. PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered to your inbox each day. Extend your knowledge with a print subscription to the Network World newsweekly, Apply here today. International subscribers, click here. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World newsletter, change your e-mail address or contact us, click here. This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com. Please use this address when modifying your subscription. Advertising information: Write to Associate Publisher Online Susan Cardoza Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 Copyright Network World, Inc., 2007