Wednesday, December 10, 2003

Packaging and Distribution for SMI-S Interfaces / Comments From Doug Cahill Of AppIQ Comments on Packaging and Distribution for SMI-S Interfaces from Doug Cahill (VP, Business Development, AppIQ) during the SMS Summit in San Diego. Strategic Considerations Industry Perspective Making the specification into the standard is key How we productize is a critical success factor for the specification Lack of clarity is adding to the FUD around the specification IHV Perspective Objectives:  Make the device manageable and enable "solutions" selling via interoperability with 3rd part products Concerns:  Protect differentiation and functional competitive advantages Productization Models Bundled Approach Device Management Software Firmware Enabled Package Of Runtime API Libraries Stand Alone Media Downloadable End User Entitlement Options Maintenance Contract Required Chargeable Upgrade Of: Firmware Device Management Software No Charge ISV Licensing Options Development Partner Programs Development And Qualification Plugfest Collaboration (Validation) What are vendors doing?   Most are evaluating packaging and distribution models.  Some are proactively evaluating marketing models to leverage SMI-S interfaces to drive revenue.   Recommendation from an ISV? Base SMI-S Interface New orders - no charge Installed Base:  Covered under maintenance contract as an update Extended SMI-S Interface New Orders - Bundled Considered as firmware component or With device management software (if mandatory) Installed Base:   Firmware Upgrade and/or Device Management software upgrade   1:23:10 PM    comment []

<

Storage Management Initiative Interoperability Conformance Test Program / Comments From Jim Norton Comments on SNIA Interoperability Conformance Test Program (ICTP) from Jim Norton (SNIA ICTP Program Manager) during the SMS Summit in San Diego. What is the Interoperability Conformance Test Program (ICTP)? Independent set of tests owned and managed by SNIA that validates storage vendor's conformance to specific implementations of: SMI-S iSCSI Management API What are the steps to conformance - ICTP Process Flow? Product Specification (Vendor Specific - Comprehending SMI-S) Product Development (Vendor Specific - Comprehending SMI-S) Test Specification (SMI-S) (Industry Specific Driven By SNIA) ICTP Test Suite (SNIA ICTP Lab Testing That Validates Product Conformance To The Specification - Pass Or Fail) What are the key SMI-S/ICTP Benefits? Enables faster adoption of new storage technologies at lower cost of entry Instills trust for SMI-S certified solutions ICTP How to get started? Visit ICTP website (www.snia.org/ICTP) Review FAQs Download ICTP application documents Identify people in organization to start working ICTP progress Participate in SMI-Lab to pre-validate solutions before ICTP testing What are general ICTP Guidelines? Validation scheduling will be on a first come - first serve basis Access to ICTP test suite source is available to all vendors that have signed ICTP validation contract Vendors have access to in-house testing for 90 days after executing the ICTP contract Testing - Pass or Fail at SNIA Lab Passing Vendors can use ICTP "mark on advertising and product packaging Passing Vendors can have Joint PR with SNIA available for additional fee Passing Vendors product & configuration listed on SNIA website What are general ICTP Program Requirements? Testing fees are non-refundable Vendor responsible for equipment installation and set up at Tech Center Vendor provides technical support either at Tech Center or "on call" during conformance testing to resolve operational issues Participating vendor is granted "right to use" the SMI 1.0 test suites, source, supporting documentation, master test suite for 90 days executing the contract/agreement Must pass all required and optional tests selected by vendor Strict product confidentiality observed by SMI lab. What are the ICTP Costs? Base Provider Or Client Costs 1st Product Licensing $10,000 for SNIA member vendor / $20,000 for non-SNIA member vendors Test conducted on configuration defined by storage vendor Company name/configuration listed on ICTP website Base Provider Or Client Derivative Costs Additional product listings on tested provider $2,000 for SNIA member / $4,000 for non-SNIA member company Meets requirements of base provider but with minor source code changes Manufacturer self validates using SNIA test suite (Self validated only after base provider has been tested) Results sent to SNIA for conformation Configurations/solutions listed on ICTP website What is the timeline for release of ICTP validation test?   2Q04 - Target Release Of Validation Test   Where can I get additional information?   http://www.snia.org/tech_activities/ictp/       11:28:44 AM    comment []

<

Microsoft's Top 10 From Directions On Microsoft (via Robert Scoble) an overview of Microsoft's top ten challenges for 2004. Extract of the top ten (without detailed analysis) is provided below: 1. Managing a maturing company in a maturing industry 2. Security, Security, Security 3. Producing Clear, Reliable Roadmaps 4. Rebuilding the Partner Network 5. Keeping Linux at Bay 6. Fixing Licensing 7. Managing Yukon Dependencies 8. Improving Software Management and Integration 9. Winning Commercial Developers for .NET 10. Making the Consumer Strategy Profitable     9:40:13 AM    comment []

<

Project Management Thoughts From SocialDynamX's Stephen Dulaney Endorsement of FogBUGz project management application from Stephen Dulaney of SocialDynamX.  We've been using FogCreek's FogBUGZproject management application here at SocialDynamX for almost a year now.  We've been very happy with it.  Read about our experience with FogBUGZ and how we use our own tabbed browser to enhance the experience.  If you're looking for something to keep track of your development projects, or any other task-related projects, you should checkout FogBUGZ.     Read More...     [SocialDynamX News] Stephen and his team also have an excellent application FM Radio which  is a desktop application that enhances the Radio experience by integrating 3 applications: news aggregator, blog publishing tool, and web browser into a single, easy-to-use, unified experience. 7:53:15 AM    comment []

<