4-Gig for Show

PHOENIX -- Storage gear designed for 4-Gbit/s Fibre Channel networks is on display here at the Storage Networking World tradeshow. But sources remain divided over just how big a market this will be and when, if ever, it will materialize.

Vendors of 4-Gbit/s equipment say their ability to offer products at a cost comparable to that of 2-Gbit/s Fibre Channel kit is giving the new speed a boost, though widespread deployment is still an open question. Following is a list of the latest "pro 4-Gbit/s" announcements here in Phoenix:

Testers

• Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) unveiled a new 4-Gbit/s capability for its SAN tester, which was announced late last year (see Agilent Releases 4-Gbit/s SAN Tester, Agilent Gets Testy, and Testing Players Go SAN Blasting). A new 1733A SAN test module tests Fibre Channel and/or Ficon traffic at 2- or 4-Gbit/s and can switch speeds automatically. The module is aimed at OEMs of switches, host bus adapters, Ficon products, and other SAN gear.

• Finisar Corp. (Nasdaq: FNSR) also announced a 4-Gbit/s tester with a four-port module for testing 4-Gbit/s Fibre Channel links and another two-port blade for testing 10-Gbit/s Fibre Channel (see Finisar Intros Analyzer for SANs).