As well as consolidating NAS file data and SAN block data over an IP network, it also comes with an IP stack, offloading IP processing tasks from the server and improving overall network performance (see Alacritech Demos Accelerator). This is a big deal, because right now IP overhead is the biggest roadblock to widespread deployment of IP in storage nets (see Sun's Down on Storage Over IP).
Then theres the little matter of who happens to be running this company: Its only Larry Boucher -- the inventor of SCSI, the founder of Adaptec
Inc. (Nasdaq: ADPT, and now a billion dollar company), and, prior to that, a major cheese in the storage division of IBM Corp. (NYSE: IBM) for 12 years.
Alacritech faces competition, though. Adaptec bought Platys, which is working on the same sort of product; and several other startups -- including Trebia Networks Inc. and Silverback Systems Inc. -- are hot on its heels. But right now, Alacritech looks to have the lead and is already shipping product.
BlueArc Corp.
is still undeniably hot, but that hasnt stopped it dropping six places in this listing.
Partly this is because the industry expectations for BlueArc are so high. It made a huge splash when it launched, received buckets of funding, and has a tip-top management team. But sales, since it started shipping in July, have been slow.
