IBM, EMC and other storage companies have created a technology
standard to manage disparate multivendor storage-area networks
(SANs).
Code-named Bluefin, the proposed standard uses the Common
Information Model (CIM) and Web-Based Enterprise Management
technologies to enable SAN devices to communicate with one another.
The standard also creates definitions and channels through which
manufacturers can integrate components so they can exchange
management information.
Users have been clamouring for storage management tools to support
a growing and complex number of storage network ports. Storage
vendors including Hewlett-Packard and Dell, which have been hit
hard by the slowdown in IT spending, have recognised customers'
needs for interoperability among products from multiple vendors.
John Webster, an analyst at Data Mobility Group, said a standard
would give users a common way to manage storage devices and for
management applications and storage devices to interact with one
another.
Bluefin has been presented to the Storage Networking Industry
Association (SNIA), a trade group comprised of 300 companies and
individuals. SNIA said it is committed to delivering standards for
multivendor storage networks.
IBM spokesman Chris Andrews said his company has been a
long-standing supporter of efforts to develop an interoperability
standard for SAN devices.
"It will lead to a better environment for customers," he said. "It
will reduce costs and make storage-area networks more efficient."
Don Swatik, EMC's vice-president of Global Alliances and
Information Sciences, said the successful development of open
industry standards would go far to reduce the time, effort and cost
of delivering management tools for heterogeneous networked
environments.