This IDC study provides IDC's 2005 worldwide market analysis and forecast for a critical component in the market for network storage solutions. It forecasts unit and port shipments as well as factory and market revenue for the sale of Fibre Channel host bus adapters (FC HBAs), including both single-port and multiport HBAs. The study also includes 2004 vendor market share for FC HBA revenue and shipments. This study discusses how future trends in server shipments, multiport HBAs, and competing technologies such as iSCSI will effect the competitive position of HBA vendors. It also provides specific advice to these companies on how to best take advantage of the changing world of networked storage.

"The next two years represent a critical period for FC HBA suppliers and FC switch vendors. They must establish a stronger beachhead in the volume server space, both in medium-sized businesses and in large businesses," said Richard Villars, vice president, Storage Systems at IDC. "Failure to do so will lead to market stagnation and potential long-term replacement by Ethernet and iSCSI solutions."