Consumer Storage and the Home Network: A Tidal Wave of Opportunity

Rick Bauer, SNIA Director, Education, Storage Networking Industry Association

The trends for networked storage in consumer environments continue to indicate that more and more data is finding its way into the home. While most home/consumer storage implementations were stand-alone/direct-attached, 2008 is seeing more and more networked storage begin appeared in residential environments. What are the implications as consumers want more "networking" in their home storage?

Learning Objectives

• To survey the growing market for home/consumer storage, and understand the drivers for continue growth in this market
  
• To understand what technologies are being implemented in this area, and look at future developments and technologies will exist in the "HAN" (Home Area Network), including commerce, e-government, entertainment, security, and energy management
  
• To expand the perception that SNIA is only a "big iron" trade association, and to stimulate the entrance of consumer storage companies into the SNIA and SNW.