D.3 SNIA Technology Center

The SNIA Technology Center in Colorado Springs was launched in 2001 as a multipurpose facility. The Technology Center was made possible by a $3,500,000 grant from Compaq Computer Corporation to the SNIA. The center comprises 14,000 square feet of lab and classroom space and is operated as a vendor-neutral facility by the SNIA. Uses of the Technology Center include interoperability demonstrations, standards compliance testing, proof of concept and evaluation configurations, technology development in support of SNIA technical work group activity, and training in storage networking technology. The initial formation of the Technology Center was led by board members Gary Phillips and Dona Stever with assistance from Sheila Childs and Tom Clark.

As with other SNIA activities, the Technology Center depends on contributions of money and equipment by member companies. Network Appliance was one of the first vendors to contribute, donating more than half a million dollars' worth of equipment in the form of fully configured NetApp filers. Other vendors have been contributing sponsors, providing equipment to get the center operational. The Technology Center is a significant and practical step for the SNIA in providing its members and the customer community a venue for accelerating the adoption of storage networking.