Cisco's Server Play - Brocade CEO Mike Klayko

Brocade CEO Mike Klayko comments on Cisco's announcement last week of "Project California," Cisco's planned expansion of its data center portfolio and movement into the server market.

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[BrocadeVideo]

I hope that social media evolves to a point where the unspoken agreement is that people identify themselves when they make comments online. Online or in person, conversation is improved by knowing who people are, and, by implication or association, where they stand. All of the comments above are interesting, but would be much more so if we knew whether the person commenting was a Brocade partner, a Cisco employee, an enterprise IT manager, or a Wall Street trader. Wilson Craig, Brocade PR

[orensinger]

It's ok to be afraid Mr. Klayko.

[nytechguy]

Mike, based on your product release cycles, it's hard to know what comes after 1.0. 1.1. At some point thereafter, there will be a 2.0.

What's more, Cisco's UCS is based on components that are FAR beyond 1.0. And hey, if I'm not mistaken, you expect YOUR Customers to adopt 1.0 hardware about every 2-3 years! Since roughly 2002, Brocade has had the 12,000. The 24,000. The 48,000. And now the DCX. The scrap yard's full.

And orensinger's right, you do look a little scared. And that's OK.

[wilsonrcraig]

Now, that is what makes this type of forum interesting, but I'd posit people using screen names as their exclusive identifier do themselves and the forum a disservice by failing to lend credence to their positions by noting their background or current positions relative to the subject matter. All that said, I'll bite. How has Brocade failed to act "with responsibility and respect for its competitors and customers," and what would you recommend it do as an alternative? Wilson Craig, Brocade PR

[wilsonrcraig]

Each of the comments above contains at least one "I," clearly identifying it as an individual's viewpoint, and not an objective statement of fact. The difference can be seen daily between the op-ed pages and the news sections of every paper in every town in every country of the world. Wilson Craig, Brocade PR (to be con't below due to lack of space)

[nytechguy]

Trust me when I tell you, this is absolutely, positively, Standard Operating Procedure for Brocade. FUD, Stall and Play Catch Up. Most recent example: FCoE. Cisco released it, Brocade Poo-Poo'ed it, now Brocade is changing its tune since the Foundry acquisition has closed. Hey Wilson, I hope that Brocade evolves to a point where it acts with responsibility and respect for its competitors and Customers. Who cares who comments come from if they're true? THAT'S what you should worry about.

[GANOBS79]

Hey Mike, you had a version 1.0 product too and companies still bought it.

[wilsonrcraig]

Is it scared or "Scar-y"? Lighting on this is a little dark and ominous, not sure the same can be inferred re his mood as it pertains to the Cisco annc. We'll see how it plays out. Interesting days. Wilson Craig, Brocade PR Craig, Brocade PR

[wilsonrcraig]

Welcome to social media. It's not a matter of number of takes," just (a relative unsophisticated video producer (read: more broadly-focused PR manager) editing more minutes down to three (in Windows Movie Maker -- freeware). Glad to see all the discussion of both the content and its presentation, That what we hoped to achieve and hope to see more of through development of these no-cost, unscripted, ad-hoc but timely and candid responses to industry issues. Thanks, Wilson Craig, Brocade PR

[klawtonmetube]

His words dismiss UCS quite quickly. his actions and his rebuttal points are founded in the current way of doing things, not in disruptive innovation that says "we can move the boundaries and do a better job".

I'm waiting to see the actions from Brocade and IBM/HP/Dell etc, that's where we will see just how impactful UCS is on his business, and his partners.

I know where I'd rather be working!

[mbrainar]

I like how many "takes" it took to record this video... notice all of the little cuts and splices in the video.