Originating Author: David Vellante
Good news for the DS8000 installed base. The benefits of IBM's new DS8000 can be achieved with microcode updates, no forklift necessary -- yet.
"Forklift upgrade" is a pejorative term used to describe a replacement of existing infrastructure with entirely new hardware. The term originated with mainframes when/if field upgrades were not available from the vendor and a forklift was required to physically remove the existing system and/or deliver the new product.
When a storage supplier announces a product that cannot be upgraded in the field, competitors point out (loudly) that conversion requires a forklift upgrade. When a vendor announces a product that requires a forklift, it always will claim this is no big deal because it has financial incentives in place for its loyal customers that endure the pain of a forklift upgrade.
Every storage vendor has to do forklift upgrades at some point, some more frequently than others. Vendors would often rather do forklifts because they're more profitable. But too many forklift upgrades can rankle users. As well, upgrades lock-in customers so they're not bad for the vendor. The frequency of forklifts will depend on:
- The architectural design of the product,
- The degree of relative performance competitiveness the vendor currently experiences,
- Timing.
A better design will offer more upgrade options. A highly competitive announcement from a performance perspective will often be delivered as a forklift because the vendor is in a stronger position to maximize profits. Timing will depend in part on number two, the competitive posture of the vendor, and also the time of year. Generally, vendors like to avoid the large disruptions associated with forklift upgrades in the fourth quarter, typically the most active for deals.
In the case of the October 2007 IBM DS8000 announcement IBM has determined that it was not necessary to include an update using the POWER6 microprocessor as many had expected. Perhaps IBM is trying to avoid the need to disrupt customers in the all-important Q4. Or maybe IBM determined that it simply didn't need to introduce this now and could wait for a 2008 kicker that includes the world's fastest microprocessor. Either way, as with EMC and Hitachi products, IBM will eventually have to introduce a system requiring a forklift upgrade.
Action Item: Customers of the new DS8000 should understand IBM's product roadmap and lock in terms and conditions today that may effect migrations tomorrow.
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