EMC today announced a 4-Gbit/s Fibre Channel switch targeted at firms with small-to-medium sized SANs -- and large wallets. (See EMC Adds Low-Cost Connectrix.)
Based on technology from Cisco, the MDS-9020 has half the port density of EMCs other MDS switches but double the throughput, EMC claims. (See Cisco Gears Up Storage Channel and Cisco Doubles SAN Sales.) The 20-port switch offers up to 4 Gbit/s of throughput per port and an aggregate bandwidth of 160 Gbit/s full duplex.
EMC execs say the switch should suit mid-sized firms looking to adopt ILM by shifting older data onto cheaper forms of storage media -- or tiers -- as its importance decreases. Switches running at 4 Gbit/s are viewed as a way to speed up the connection of multiple 2-Gbit/s fabrics in a tiered setup. (See Four-Gig FC Smites IP and B&S Insider Heralds 4-Gbit/s Fibre Channel.)
The pitch appeals to at least one potential customer. Yes, we would consider this, says Jon Latorella, CEO of LocatePLUS Holdings Corp., a firm that aggregates data for government agencies. He says improved throughput at 4 Gbit/s could prove invaluable for shifting data around the firms various storage systems.
At the heart of the LocatePLUS operation is a 250-terabyte database, which contains information used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the agency's anti-terrorism efforts. Moving this data quickly is high on Latorella's agenda. Currently, LocatePLUS is seeing its data volumes rise dramatically. As the data continues to grow, having more robust switches would enable us to move data much faster from one storage array to another, he explains.
With the move to the cloud, CISOs must shift priorities from operating security programs to overseeing (monitoring and auditing) outsourced cybersecurity programs.
2022 was a boon year for IT salaries. 2023 came in like a beast with layoffs, raise freezes, and ChatGPT, but that beast has few teeth.
Age is only a number. Don't let a high number cancel your career.
