The standard session length is 50 minutes, generally consisting of a 40-minute presentation plus 10 minutes for Q&A. The agenda may also include a limited number of panel discussions.

FAQ - How to Submit a Proposal that will be Accepted

Q: Who is the audience for my talk?

A: These are developers of storage software and hardware. They are very technical so it is important to have technical details in your content. Leave out: discussions of the market for your technology, product features, roadmap, etc. Include: architecture, flow diagrams, schema, code and technical challenges you have overcome.

Q: What should my title include?

A: Your title will be used by the attendees to decide among multiple tracks which talk to attend for the next session. It should attract people to your talk. Consider not just the technology as part of the title, but also what you are uniquely bringing to the discussion. A little controversy adds to the attraction. Ending with a question that attendees will want to find the answer to can help.

Q: What should my abstract include?

A: The best abstracts summarize the topic you will present, but also demonstrate that you have the expertise to be "the one" to give a talk on this subject matter. State any prerequisite knowledge that might be required, or if it is an entry level talk (we need those also), say so. Most abstracts are rejected because we cannot determine whether it will be a good talk or not.

Q: What about my job title?

A: If you have a title with the word "product", "manager", or "marketing" in it, you may need to go to extra effort in your abstract to convince us that you will give a good technical talk.

Q: What should I include in learning objectives?

A: Each of the objectives should be a concrete goal that you expect the audience to walk away with understanding of. This is an additional way to demonstrate your grasp of the subject matter. Do not leave these blank.

Q: Can I have more time to submit?

A: We start evaluating proposals as soon as they are submitted. The earlier you submit, the less competition we have in front of us for the topic you want to present. Later submissions are compared to your early submission. Taking time to do a good job on the proposal will be reflected in your probability of being accepted. Hacking something together at the last minute just prior to the deadline is not a strategy for success.