IBM's statement concludes: "Eventually, as iSCSI matures and becomes native to the infrastructure, we intend to support that as well." Hardly a compelling endorsement for customers evaluating a new technology. At this stage, IBM is retreating into a defensive strategy. And this is the prevailing industry groupthink, largely the result of IBM's unhappy experience.
Some believe that IBM's mothballing the 200i was actually a healthy sign, serving to deflate the hype and help iSCSI move on the next phase. "The whole thing at IBM was actually a very positive announcement for them," says Doug Ingraham, senior manager of product marketing in Cisco Systems Inc.'s (Nasdaq: CSCO) storage technology group. "In terms of the hype cycle, iSCSI is moving down the curve... so we have to be very careful about how things get perceived."
That may be. But HP, another one of iSCSI's biggest early proponents, has IBM's travails fresh in its mind. "As far as the Tier One companies, there is a hesitancy" about introducing iSCSI products, says Bill Mottram, director of the infrastructure business segment in HP's storage solutions group. "There are going to be some forks in the road, as we saw when IBM discontinued the 200i." (Well, technically, the 200i is still available; it's just that IBM isn't actively selling it.)
HP seems to be back at square one. Before it decided to swallow Compaq, HP had said it would deliver a whole range of iSCSI storage systems and other Ethernet storage products by the end of 2001. Those plans evaporated into thin air. Now HP is dipping its toe... ever so cautiously... back into the iSCSI waters with plans to resell Cisco's 5420 iSCSI router, which connects FC SANs to IP networks (see HP to OEM Cisco's iSCSI Router).
To buy itself time, EMC is voicing its support for IP SANs but it isn't backing up the rhetoric with products, yet. In June, at a meeting with Wall Street analysts, EMC CEO Joe Tucci pledged that the company "will lead in block-over-IP. We will lead in the transition to these networks." (See EMC Flashes Wall Street.)
