Task force on network storage architecture: network attached storage is inevitable

We see networked attached storage as being a common means of storage connection and access by the year 2000. This will not, at first, be manifested in direct communication between any node on a network and an individual disc drive, Rather, the likely first step is that storage will be linked with clusters of file servers as part of a server wide network. Later, broader sharing of storage access may appear. The reason for taking this position is quite simple: our customers are telling us that they want to and will do this. The acceptance and adoption of Fibre Channel as both an intersystem and I/O channel interconnect is a reflection of and a stimulus for this trend. The author believes there are four reasons why systems suppliers and their customers find this direction in storage attachment to be right for large segments of the computer systems market and he presents them