Storage hardware vendors back iSCSI

Microsoft has announced that 14 storage hardware vendors have qualified their Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) hardware products for use with Windows.

The software giant said that, as a result, customers now have a wide choice of tested iSCSI hardware components designed to interoperate with Windows and the Microsoft iSCSI Architecture.

The iSCSI storage protocol is designed to transport block-level storage traffic over IP networks. It enables relatively low-cost options for storage area networks (Sans).

According to Gartner Dataquest, by 2007 iSCSI will emerge to connect more than 1.6 million servers to Sans - more than any competing technology.

"Today's announcement is a major step forward in making IP storage networks more accessible and cost-effective for customers, with Microsoft's iSCSI Software Initiator as a prime driver," said Zane Adam, director of product management and marketing in Microsoft's enterprise storage division.

Companies with iSCSI hardware and iSCSI host bus adapters that have so far passed Microsoft's tests and qualified their products include Adaptec, Advanced Digital Information, Atto Technology, Cisco Systems, Intel, Intransa, LeftHand Networks, McData, Network Appliance, QLogic and storageconnections.net.