On the February 2, 2010 FCoE Fact vs. Fiction call, we discussed some of the benefits of FCoE and the move to 10 Gigabit Ethernet. The key value proposition is the halving of connections and consequently connection costs. This means getting rid of cables, adapters, ports and redundant switch infrastructure; and dramatically streamlining communications costs.
Here's a video from @davegraham that clearly shows the opportunity to reduce cable bulk.
As shown on the FCoE Adoption Curve, at some point in the mid-term (we're predicting between late-2011 to mid-2012) FCoE technology will reach a critical mass breakthrough, and ROI will become virtually instantaneous. This point will mark a meaningful impact of FCoE technology in terms of reducing cable bulk, cutting port costs, and eliminating redundant cards and switches.
Action Item: For mission critical storage applications, FCoE will allow practitioners to get rid of much unwanted and unnecessary infrastructure. But it won't happen overnight. Organizations should plan accordingly to prepare for this trend and benefit from reducing asset costs, physical connection bulk and wasted space.
Footnotes:
