Needless to say, my last sentence was either overlooked or ignored. *sigh*
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 13:53:12 +0200 (GMT+0200)
From: Chris C Clabaugh
To: Anne Tissiman
Cc: phil@corollarysa.co.za
Subject: Re: Orca
On Wed, 23 Apr 1997, Anne Tissiman wrote:
> Please think about your initial prospects for Orca - both within our base, our prospects and also in target or competitive accounts.
--> Anne, down here I would say that we have to target OuMu (probably through Peter Eloff's group), MetLife, etc.
> Please send me your initial companies - that we should target specifically for mass storage indicate whether to do a sales call (a/c man with Don)
>
> - This doesn't have to be complete - just your indication of which
> - or invite to a detailed presentation on mass storage
> - or invite to the launch only (this will be a broad list)
> accounts/companies you would target first, for mass storage.
> Please reply by Thurs late - Many thanks rgds anne
OK, well I think a major problem with the 'Orca' offering is that it lacks a solution; in other words I feel that this is a product in search of a solution. Where is our wrap around data management or data monitoring software or expertise? What _is_ our strategy here? Are we just selling lots of disk, no solution? What is Orca doing about OLTP monitoring software as related to the disk subsystems? What is the qualification list as far as OS, SCSI cards, whole systems? What type of electrical certification for the US, Canada, EU has been done? Does anyone really know how much power this requires on startup and while running?
Please don't tell me that the Orca GEM software is our solution; while nice, all it does is provide an indication of how the hardware is performing, not the data coming into/out of the box.
While I am on this subject, I felt that the first unit received and installed here (at the QDC 'show') was not a world-class product. I am sure that many long hours were spent in its design, etc.,; but my impression was that it truly is an African product. The shipping / packing container was slipshod; internal cabling was absolutely awful (we have pictures); none of the fans were functioning (I had to splice them into a spare power lead that I had with me); the power supply fans (both the 2 original and the 'spare' one I took from JHB) would not function; one of the hokey power supply fasteners busted its' connecting nut; there were simply way too many external F&W SCSI ports for the number and type of terminators sent; no documentation on set up other than hand written 'single ended' and 'differential' labels plastered to the back of the device; the rail mounting architecture is really crappy and should be changed to that used in the DS/SS series drawers as of old; when I requested pin outs for the ORCA monitor port, I received something like "pin 1 is orange, Pin Two is Blue, and Pin 6 is brown"; and on and on.
Please realize that I'll quite happily sell these to customers that just want 'more disk'; but I thought the idea here was to market this as a viable competitor to EMC, Clariion, etc. I do not think it is at this point.
I hope (as always) that my comments are taken for a sincere concern for the success of this venture, and not to cause a feeling of destructive criticism to any person(s) or organization(s).
==========================================================
Chris Clabaugh, SCO ACE | Voice: +27 21 761 1115
Corollary, Cape Region | Fax : +27 21 761 2211
7 Torrens Avenue |
Golf Links Estate | e-mail: ccc@iafrica.com
Ottery 7800 |
Republic of South Africa | "Africa's not for sissies"
==========================================================
