Insider Insights: z/Journal Interviews Storage Specialist Fred Moore

by Bill Carico
December 1, 2005

On the more distant horizon, non-volatile MRAM, object-based storage, and vertical recording disk technology have tangible momentum. Self-healing systems and nanotechnology all remain further away. Given the steady advancements in technology, we continue to press toward autonomic systems that are self-healing, self-optimizing, self-protecting, and self-configuring.

z/Journal: Having been a forward-looking storage strategist for so many years, looking back on your career, what events in IT took you by surprise?

FM: I was surprised that optical disk failed to make it as a data center technology, given the amount of funding and promise it first held, but the progress of optical storage in areal density, performance, reliability, and capacity fell far behind the magnetic alternatives. I initially thought optical would fill the “hole in the hierarchy” by providing a random access mass storage solution (tape libraries provide sequential access mass storage).

The continual gap between mainframe storage management capability and non-mainframe systems is even more puzzling. I’m surprised that building a DFSMS equivalent solution doesn’t have much momentum, given the value of data on these systems.

Fred Moore is known for his candor and the fact he does his own thinking. He spent a large part of his career working and providing vision for StorageTek, and today established storage vendors regularly seek his advice. Fred also sees much of what is going on with a number of different start-up companies regarding innovations in the making. He travels the world discussing his research and insights, and has written numerous books, articles, and reports for the storage industry.