The Fibre Channel Industry Association (FCIA) announces what it claims is the fastest networking protocol-- Gen 6 Fibre Channel, delivering up to 128Gbps to SANs, as well as reliability, efficiency and simplicity enhancements.

Set for a 2016 release, Gen 6 fibre channel enables 64Gbps full-duplex speeds as well as a 128Gbps throughput option to deliver full-duplex speeds of 256Gbps, all with seamless inter- and backward-compatibility to 16 and 8Gbps fibre channel networks.

In addition the Gen 6 standard features Forward Error Correction (FEC), lower energy consumptions (via optical connectors operating in "nap" mode multiple times per second) and automatic configuration to fastest supported speeds between any two network points.

Lenovo will buy IBM 's x86 server business for $2.3 billion under a deal that covers IBM's System x, BladeCenter and Flex System blade servers and switches, x86-based Flex integrated systems, NeXTScale and iDataPlex servers, and associated software, blade networking and even maintenance operations. The purchase price is about US$2.3 billion, approximately US$2.3 billion to be paid in cash and the balance in Lenovo stock.

Just like when IBM sold its PC business to Lenovo, the clever part of this deal may be the agreements that Read more...

Forget the big storage boxes, the powerful servers, the cooling fans, and the power distribution. Your best way in to the data center business may be the smallest way in...through tiny hardware that fits in the palm of your hand.

"The conversation has changed," Richard Jenkins, VP Marketing & Strategic Partnerships at RF Code tells us. "No one buys technology-- they buy outcomes."

RF Code has been rapidly growing. With $20 million in annual revenue last year, it has become a powerhouse in asset tracking, slapping RFIDs on all the kit in the data center to provide the precise, accurate and actionable information about the location, status and state of physical assets. As regulatory demands on companies of all sizes around power management and sustainability increase, it’s certainly a valuable service.

Through channel partners, RF Code sells Active RFIDs (433 MHz) which allow real-time data capture and data flow in any environment via not only the active RFID hardware (asset tags, sensors, readers) but also via management software (built on open standards).

Yep, Tariff Consultancy Ltd (TCL) compiles it all. Their Data Centre Pricing in Europe 2013-2018 report details the new growth in "Data Centre raised floor space" by an average of 10,000 square metres per month--  putting pressure on average price levels.

There will be mixed results for Data Centre providers over the next 5-year period, says TCL.

Average Data Centre pricing remains stable over time, with average standard rack space rates from 2010 to 2013 being broadly unchanged over the 23 countries surveyed. Over the 3-year period, average rack space pricing has fallen in 13 Country Markets, but has risen in 10 Country Markets. The price trend is forecast to continue from 2013 to 2018 with average pricing forecast to rise by 1.2% over the next 5-year period.

But within the average pricing there are a wide range of rack space pricing based on the different types of Data Centre provider in each market. New entrants, Wholesale Data Centre, regional & local Data Centre providers are offering discounted rates disturbing the market equilibrium of supply and demand and lowering average pricing.