Currently we are a small company but we are faced with a large growth
potential both in terms of personnel and data storage needs. Our IT
departmemt has proposed that as part of an overall plan to support
this potential growth it would be wise to move from using direct
attached storage to using SAN based storage. We need a second opinion
to back this proposal up (or refute it as the case may be).

The question then is: What are the names of several respectable IT
consulting firms specifically ones with exeperience realted to data
storage technologies (Fibre Channel, iSCSI) and systems (DAS/NAS/SAN)
that could evaluate our requirements and provide us with an objective
opinion on whether or not we should implement a Storage Area Network?
These firms should not be SAN vendors for obvious reasons.

Luetin --

Many of the leading IT analysts -- Gartner Group, IDC, Aberdeen --
have done detailed reports on the Storage Area Network (SAN) market
and also have analysts available for consulting.  The consulting
provides them additional revenues but also gives them a chance to see
"real world" problems and not just those discussed by vendors.

A couple of people have done extensive tracking of SANs -- Dan Tanner
at Aberdeen Group and Michael Petersen of Strategic Research:
Aberdeen Research
"Inside Aberdeen -- Dan Tanner on Data Backup"
http://www.aberdeen.com/ab_company/hottopics/insider/analyst092002.htm
dan.tanner@aberdeen.com 
Phone: 617-854-5275

Strategic Research
"About Us"
http://www.sresearch.com/
mlp@sresearch.com
Phone: 805-566-1556

Personal experience has shown that analysts with the smaller firms
such as Aberdeen and Strategic Research are much more easily
approached than Gartner Group or IDC.

The Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) is a standards
group for the industry and has helped to found a university-based
group to deal with user research and issues.  Based at the University
of California/San Diego, the group is setting up a network for
discussion and research, though it's brand new right now.  Nonetheless
they could provide knowledgeable local contacts:
SNIA
"SNIA Becomes Founding Sponsor of StorageNetworking.org" (Sept. 30,
2003)
http://www.snia.org/news/press_releases/2003/2003_09_30_SN.pdf

You may also find valuable an overview of the Storage Area Network
market, covered in the following Google Answer.  It notes which
research firms have done detailed work on the market.  Many of these
reports will be valuable in assessing the risks of SANs, as well as
their greatest benefits:
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=95870

This Google search strategy was based on knowledge of the business
more than direct search.  Using the following search strategy, you'll
get independent systems vendors (ISVs) with lots of information -- but
with products to sell.
"storage area networks" + consultants

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA

---

Clarification of Answer by omnivorous-ga on 21 Oct 2003 07:24 PDT

Luetin --

There's one other organization that I should have mentioned, as I
receive a copy of their data storage newsletter.  The website has some
interesting reading too:
Evaluator Group
Greenwood Village, CO
www.evaluatorgroup.com
(303) 221-7867

They run a series of short courses on storage networks and strategies:
http://www.evaluatorgroup.com/English/Products/Seminars/Seminars_FS.html

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA