Dell, HP, and Intel Collaborate on Next-Generation Server Storage

Dell, Hewlett-Packard (HP), and Intel have announced plans to work together to define compatible Serial Attached SCSI and Serial ATA storage standard specifications. The companies will work with the industry associations responsible for the technologies, including SCSI Trade Association (STA) Serial ATA II Working Group, to create open standard interfaces.

Serial Attached SCSI and Serial ATA are intended to replace the current parallel versions of SCSI and ATA. Serial technology is expected to help storage development for servers and storage solutions because it overcomes performance barriers in current parallel technologies. The companies hope that Serial ATA technology will evolve into an inexpensive but high-performing technology for desktops, servers, and storage solutions. Serial Attached SCSI is targeted toward markets that require robust feature sets for mainstream server-storage solutions.

The first Serial Attached SCSI products should be available in 2004. STA released Serial ATA I last year. The group expects to finalize the Serial ATA II specification by the end of the year and release products next year.

http://www.serialata.org

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