Ken Fuchs wrote: > > > You are correct. Coraid (http://www.coraid.com/) created the standard > and implemented the Linux device driver that is now included in the > Torvalds (Vanilla) kernel. Currently, Coraid is the only company with > a product that implements the required AoE hardware. The author of > the Linux Magazine article works for Coraid. > > However, standards created by industry committees aren't necessary > better than standards created by a single company. Also, the AoE > standard is about as simple as possible, but not simpler. > > AoE appears to cost a tenth of SAN for those applications that don't > need full SAN capabilities. > > Other companies are sure to make AoE hardware, unless Coraid ties > things up with patents and royalties; I didn't check this aspect. > > All things considered, I still wouldn't mind exploring the > possibilities of a new low cost technology like AoE. > > Sincerely, > > Ken Fuchs <kfuchs at winternet.com> > I agree that standards standards committee's are not necessarily the end all and be all. I would love to have another low cost storage technology available, but my cynical side causes me to say humbug on anything new until I see evidence to the contrary. That being said, I'm going to look into it more and find out if it is something worthwhile or not. Josh