Compaq inks storage switch deal

McData, a maker of top-end switches used to route data among servers and storage devices on special-purpose storage networks, has a new ally in Compaq Computer, which will sell McData's switches, the companies announced Monday. Compaq will sell McData's 6000 Series system and its Enterprise Fabric Connectivity Manager software, which is used to manage the network.

McData sells "director class" switches, which continue to meet high standards for performance even if part of the switch breaks down. It's a leading company in the storage area network (SAN) arena, which has been plagued by problems in ensuring that different components will work together. --Stephen Shankland, Special to ZDNet News