April 13, 2000 07:48
Gadzoox Networks Announces New Plug-in Module To Enable 32-Port
Switching Capability
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 13, 2000--
Capellix Switch Provides Cost Savings By Out-Scaling Competition;
32-port Configuration Does the Work of Five
16-port Switches in Large Clusters
Gadzoox(R) Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZOOX), a leading provider of SAN (storage area network) products, today announced a
new 12-port PIM (plug-in module) for its Capellix(TM) 3000 modular SAN switch. Designed for users seeking the high
availability or performance benefits of multi-node server clusters, a single Capellix switch now provides scalability that would
otherwise require five 16-port switches. The result is a cluster connectivity solution at less than 20% of the cost of the required
16-port switches, for a savings of over $100,000(1).
"The server clustering goals of scalability and availability make Fibre Channel SAN technology an obvious cluster
interconnect choice," said Robert Gray, research director of storage subsystems for market research firm IDC. "Products like
Gadzoox' Capellix Modular SAN Switch have the right blend of high port count, performance, and interoperability
characteristics that make it a great candidate for use in server clustering."
As the deployment of e-Business solutions continues to grow, companies are becoming more reliant on continuous access to
their data. To address this need, clustering under server operating systems such as NetWare, Windows and Linux has emerged
as a cost effective method of adding fault tolerance to help eliminate downtime.
"More and more companies are turning to server clustering to help guard against system down time and the loss of critical
business functions," said Joel Warford, Gadzoox Networks senior director of product marketing. "As a result, multi-node
clustering has become a killer application for the deployment of SANs. By providing the port count and switching bandwidth
needed to build large clusters along with the flexibility of its modular design, the Capellix 3000 serves as an ideal foundation
for the building of application specific SAN `islands'."
With the highest number of switch ports in its class, the Capellix 3000 provides cost-effective and simplified connectivity for
large server clusters. Unlike lower port count switches that waste half of their ports on inter-switch links in order to create a
scalable mesh, the Capellix 3000 can connect a 32-node cluster with just a single switch. When compared to the five 16-port
switches that would be required for a comparable cluster this represents a significant savings. Powered by the TPC-C
record-setting(2) 28-gigabit per second switching engine, the Capellix 3000 can also provide higher performance since it does
not suffer from the effects of inter-switch congestion which can "block" the flow of data. To help ensure interoperability with
servers, storage and other switches, the company believes Capellix is the only switch designed purely to open standards rather
than the proprietary fabric protocols used in other switch products.
Pricing and Availability
The Capellix 3000 modular SAN switch accommodates up to three PIMs, which enable "pay-as-you-grow" port scalability as
well as mix and match configuration flexibility with a choice of GBIC, multi-mode dual-SC, DB-9, or HSSDC port connectors.
The new PIM, Model 3140, features 11 HSSDC small form factor connectors and 1 GBIC connector to provide up to 32 active
ports per switch. The suggested list price of the Model 3140 PIM is $3,495, for a fully configured 32-port configuration with a
list price as low as $18,480. This translates to a price per port of less than $580. Deliveries of the Model 3140 PIM are
expected to begin in the current quarter.
Gadzoox Networks Offers Broad Line of SAN Products
Gadzoox, a leader in the SAN market, offers a broad range of advanced products including Bitstrip(TM) (gigabit Fibre Channel
hub), Gibraltar(TM) (managed Fibre Channel hub), Ventana(TM) (SAN management software application), Capellix(TM) 2000
(stackable SAN switch) and the performance record-setting Capellix(TM) 3000 (modular SAN switch). |
