Bridgeworks Highlights
- Introduces the first 40Gb iSCSI-to-FC protocol bridge
- Specialises in connecting new servers to old peripherals and visa versa
- A UK company based in Christchurch
- OEMs include Quantum, Spectralogic and Dell
- Distributors include Zycko
- Helps with investment protection in rapidly virtualising data centres
We had a talk this week with David Trossell, CEO of Bridgeworks. You’ll want to know more about how the relevance of protocol switching to the advanced virtualisation market.
Who Is Bridgeworks?
Bridgeworks was founded in 1982, working originally on linking tape drives over serial interfaces for the British Navy. Over the years it has pioneered the protocol bridging market and has succeeded in producing telecom switches for Bell companies (including those in China) and Alcatel. Its switches can be found in Quantum (DLT600A), low-end Spectralogic iSCSI drives and in all the iSCSI enabled Dell TL2000 and TL4000 Tape Libraries shipped to date.
David joined after a management buy-out in 1999 and has helped add new technology to allow the company to bring its technology to the Storage Area Network (SAN) market.
What Is Bridgeworks Introducing?
The Oresund EFC402200 launched today is the world’s first 40Gb iSCSI-to-Fibre Channel protocol bridge to add to the 40Gb iSCSI-to-SAS version it introduced last month. It allows any FC device to be accessed from an iSCSI-based SAN. It comes housed in a 1U rack mounted enclosure and connects to the IP network via 2 auto-sensing 40Gb Ethernet ports and to the FC network via 2 auto-sensing 16Gb ones.
Why Is It Important?
Investment cycles vary for data centre equipment, which results in significant technology fragmentation (see the different spending growth rates by type and quarter in Figure 1). The growth of server virtualisation and VDI is increasing the use of IP networks and iSCSI SANs, but these must co-exist and be bridged into FC-based systems, storage and tape. David believes that 40Gb iSCSI adoption by enterprises will be rapid and widespread in 2013, building on the rapid deployment of VMware and Microsoft Hyper-V virtualisation in 2011-12.
Bridgeworks’ got-to-market strategy involves OEMs such as Dell and IBM and distribution through Zycko and others.
Some Conclusions – Equipment Life-Cycle Management In A Transforming Data Centre
David describes Bridgeworks business as connecting new servers to old peripherals and visa versa – old servers to new ones. We believe that its protocol bridging products are especially valuable in the current economic downturn, where data centre managers can’t afford to ditch older systems, kit or the networks they use to connect. While the industry and us analysts get excited about Cloud Computing, Big Data, Integrated Systems, Data Centre transformations and the like, we must remember that back in the real world users adopt these in addition to – rather than as replacements of – their existing estate. We’re looking forward to looking more closely at how Bridgeworks works with OEMs and customers in future posts.