"IDC expects storage system suppliers will seek to increase their investment in the core storage OS and enable an advanced, scalable application infrastructure leading to a grid-like OS."

A case study on Central Queensland University's shared storage will be delivered at the conference, outlining the network linking some 11 sites across Australia as the university moved from direct attached storage to a SAN environment.

Adrian Yarrow, corporate systems administration manager at Central Queensland University said his presentation will not be centered on the specifics of the university's storage environment, but what it has enabled. A large ERP implementation in 1999 forced the university to review its storage infrastructure and implement a SAN.

The conference will feature 15 end-user case studies, a range of panel sessions as well as local and international speakers from Europe and the US.

Gartner's global storage team vice president Phillip Sargeant will present the opening address and will also participate in an end-user panel discussion on disaster recovery featuring Griffith University director of information systems Naveen Sharma and Adelaide University strategic initiatives manager Martin Barbary.