Infonetics: 16G Fibre Channel Comes Back Strong in Q1

Infonetics Research forecasts the combined SAN and high-performance interconnect (HPI) equipment market to top $9 billion by 2017, with the HPI segment gaining as 10GE, 40GE and 100GE transports become the norm for networking within the data center. (Graphic: Infonetics Research)

CAMPBELL, Calif.--()--Market research firm Infonetics Research released excerpts from its 1st quarter 2013 (1Q13) SAN and High Performance Interconnect Equipment market size, share and forecasts report, which tracks storage area network (SAN) switches and adapters and high-performance interconnect (HPI) equipment including FCoE/Ethernet switches and converged network adapters.

ANALYST NOTE

“While most SAN equipment languished in the 1st quarter of 2013, 16G Fibre Channel switches put up a very strong showing,” notes Michael Howard, Infonetics Research’s co-founder and principal analyst for carrier networks. “Sales of chassis 16G Fibre Channel switches grew 45%, and fixed switches more than doubled from the previous quarter.”

Howard adds: “The bulk of 16G Fibre Channel deployments continue to be inter-switch link applications, but with server input/output capabilities rising with the introduction of Intel’s Romley, and with Emulex's and QLogic’s first 16G Fibre Channel adapter shipments, we expect a more meaningful adoption of 16G for server connections to begin in 2013.”

SAN MARKET HIGHLIGHTS

  • Worldwide revenue for SAN equipment, including Fibre Channel switches and iSCSI and Fibre Channel host bus adapters, declined to $604 million in 1Q13, an 8% drop from 4Q12
  • The initial pent-up demand that provided a jump start for 16G Fibre Channel switches is still in motion, but Infonetics believes it will soon slow and settle into a growth pattern more in line with the 8G segment
  • On the heels of huge growth in 2012, the global high-performance interconnect equipment market, including converged FCoE/Ethernet switches and converged network adapters, slumped 13% sequentially in 1Q13, but is up 45% from the year-ago quarter
  • Infonetics forecasts the SAN and high-performance interconnect (HPI) equipment market to top $9 billion by 2017, with the HPI segment gaining as 10GE, 40GE and 100GE transports become the norm for networking within the data center
  • The leading manufacturers in the SAN and high-performance interconnect markets all had a down quarter in 1Q13

SAN REPORT SYNOPSIS

Infonetics’ quarterly SAN report provides worldwide and regional market size, vendor market share, forecasts through 2017, trends and analysis for chassis and fixed Fibre Channel switches; Fibre Channel and iSCSI host bus adapters; chassis and fixed converged FCoE and Ethernet switches; and converged network adapters. Companies tracked: Alcatel-Lucent, Brocade, Chelsio, Cisco, Dell, Emulex, IBM (BNT), Juniper, Mellanox, QLogic and others. To buy the report, contact Infonetics: http://www.infonetics.com/contact.asp.

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TO BUY REPORTS, CONTACT:

N. America (West), Asia Pacific: Larry Howard, larry@infonetics.com, +1 408-583-3335

N. America (East), Midwest, L. America: Scott Coyne, scott@infonetics.com, +1 408-583-3395

EMEA, India, Singapore: George Stojsavljevic, george@infonetics.com, +44 755-488-1623

Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan: http://www.infonetics.com/contact.asp

ABOUT INFONETICS

Infonetics Research (www.infonetics.com) is an international market research and consulting firm serving the communications industry since 1990. A leader in defining and tracking emerging and established technologies in all world regions, Infonetics helps clients plan, strategize and compete effectively. View Infonetics’ About Us slides at http://bit.ly/QUrbrV.

Contacts

Infonetics Research
Michael Howard, +1 408-583-3351
Co-Founder and Principal Analyst, Carrier Networks
michael@infonetics.com
Twitter: @MichaelVHoward

Release Summary

Excerpts from Infonetics' 1Q13 SAN & High Performance Interconnect Equipment report -- tracks storage area network switches/adapters, HPI equipment (FCoE/Ethernet switches, converged network adapters)

Contacts

Infonetics Research
Michael Howard, +1 408-583-3351
Co-Founder and Principal Analyst, Carrier Networks
michael@infonetics.com
Twitter: @MichaelVHoward