Another example is storage virtualization integration. Early attempts at virtualization largely entailed external appliances. New gear, however, is adding virtualization into the switch itself.

Work on intelligent switching was initially spurred on by a group of start-ups, but most of those vendors have been swallowed up by the big boys. The only one left standing is Maxxan Systems Inc. The San Jose-based company's Maxxan MXV500 can be used either as a SAN switch that supports storage applications or as an application platform that supports storage security, virtualization, snapshots and data replication.

McData, too, is getting in on the act. The company has announced some basic intelligence in its Application Services Modules (ASM), which are port-attached to the i10K and are compatible with previous McData 6000 series directors. The McData ASM is a 24-port, 1U (1.75-in.-high) module that attaches to any port of a McData director or switch. It delivers throughput of up to 1 million I/O operations per second. Current modules support virtualization of continuous data protection, VTLs, replication and data mobility. As at AOL, the idea is to accomplish far more without having to rip out cables and rearchitect the SAN.

Dreams Do Come True

According to Christian at Norfolk Southern, however, true SAN virtualization remains a dream. But progress is being made: A team of storage vendors is working with McData and others to add a heterogeneous virtualization layer -- a major missing piece of the intelligent switching puzzle. Within a few months, ASMs attached to an i10K will be able to take advantage of this virtualization layer to perform a wide array of new services.