Adaptec and Cisco Launch Internet SCSI Networking Initiative

Cisco and Adaptec are both looking to expand the emerging market for storage solutions based on iSCSI. Adaptec currently sells a product line of application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)-based iSCSI adapters. Cisco sells storage routers, which are one part of its IP networking solutions.

"Companies are seeking ways to manage increasingly complex distributed-storage assets easily and cost-effectively," explained Ram Jayam, vice president and general manager of Adaptec's Storage Networking group. "This initiative will deliver interoperable and market-leading iSCSI solutions that bring value to customers while minimizing their investment in infrastructure and IT resources."

At Fall Comdex 2001, the two companies demonstrated a new solution they're working on to provide iSCSI-based remote mirroring. This solution lets customers take advantage of disaster-recovery technology at an affordable price (customers might not have been able to use this technology previously because of high costs).