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Month 00, 2000June 6, 2003

Media Contact: Ron Durbin, Director of Industry Relations, (858) 534-4034

THE INFORMATION STORAGE INDUSTRY CENTER (ISIC) AND THE STORAGE NETWORKING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (SNIA) TEAM TO PLAN STORAGENETWORKING.ORG
New University-Hosted Initiative to Support Data Storage End Users;
Planning Phase Input Being Solicited at www.StorageNetworking.org

The Information Storage Industry Center (ISIC) at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) is pleased to announce StorageNetworking.org—a non-profit initiative whose mission is to support the users of data storage technology. Currently in the planning phase, it is projected that this initiative will stimulate the creation of regional and local data storage user groups, so that individuals involved in this fast-moving industry can exchange information with peers and knowledge experts. It will also develop a new online resource portal to provide access to user group resources, industry-specific educational opportunities, academic research, discussion groups, and news and information. The Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) is collaborating with the ISIC on the planning phase of this initiative and will also participate as a Founding Sponsor.

The ISIC is an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation social science research program that studies the business dynamics of the data storage industry. “The data storage industry can be confusing, complex, and expensive,” states ISIC Director Roger Bohn. “Through the StorageNetworking.org initiative, we hope to facilitate discussions between data storage users, so that they can benefit from their own experiences as the demands on their time and resources continue to grow. At the same time, we and our academic partners also hope to make it easier for users to locate educational opportunities, university research, and relevant news and information.”

“One of the Sloan Foundation’s goals is the application of academic resources to help identify and address industry challenges,” continues Bohn. “By collaborating with the SNIA on this initiative, we feel we can begin to address the challenges of user education and knowledge sharing in ways that benefit the entire industry.”

“The SNIA is pleased to be collaborating with the ISIC on the planning of this initiative,” states SNIA Chairperson Sheila Childs. “We at the SNIA have long recognized that data storage end users need an independent resource to turn to for information about storage networking education and research, and for discussion and interaction with other users. We believe that this initiative has the potential to greatly enhance the end users’ ability to successfully deploy storage networking technologies. The SNIA is pleased to have a partner with the ISIC’s experience studying the business aspects of data storage, and their broad reach into the academic and research communities.”

Current members of the StorageNetworking.org initiative’s academic advisory board include: the Center for Magnetic Recording Research at UCSD; the San Diego Supercomputer Center; UCSD Extension; the University of Minnesota’s Digital Technology Center; Penn State University’s School of

Information Sciences and Technology; the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs’ Network, Information, and Space Security Center; and the Singapore Data Storage Institute’s Network Storage Technologies Division. Over time, this initiative will grow to include additional academic institutions, industry associations, technology experts, and data storage users who want to share their experiences with, and learn from, their peers in the industry.

Data storage technology users and other industry participants can email comments or questions regarding this initiative to isic@ucsd.edu. Individuals are also invited to sign up for initiative updates by joining a moderated mailing list at http://www.StorageNetworking.org.

About the ISIC
The Information Storage Industry Center (ISIC) at the University of California, San Diego is a social science research program studying the business and economic aspects of the data storage industry. Established in 1998 as an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Industry Center, ISIC conducts research on all segments of this rapidly evolving and highly-competitive global industry. ISIC is affiliated with UCSD’s Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies (IR/PS), one of the world’s top international graduate programs specializing in the Pacific Rim. For more information on the ISIC, visit http://isic.ucsd.edu.

About the SNIA
The Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) is a not-for-profit organization made up of over 300 companies and individuals worldwide spanning the entire storage industry. SNIA members share a common goal: to set the pace of the industry by ensuring that storage networks become efficient, complete and trusted solutions across the IT community. To this end the SNIA is uniquely committed to delivering standards, education and services that will propel open storage networking solutions into the broader market. For information, contact the SNIA at 650-949-6720 or via e-mail at executivedirector@snia.org, or visit the SNIA web site at http://www.snia.org.

About the IR/PS
Established in 1986, UCSD’s Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies (IR/PS) is the University of California’s only professional school of international affairs and the only graduate school in the United States to focus exclusively on the Pacific Rim. More information on the graduate school and its faculty can be found at http://www-irps.ucsd.edu.