NEWS: IBM Unveils Scaleable Fibre Channel Solution for Netfinity Enterprise Storage
biz.yahoo.com
Thursday July 23, 10:59 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 23, 1998--IBM today announced plans to deliver new Netfinity Fibre Channel hardware tools capable of providing up to 100 MB/sec(1) data transmissions over distances up to 10 km(2) to support the growing data storage demands of business-criticial enterprise networks. Available in September, this new Fibre Channel solution provides the increased scalability and performance that IBM Netfinity enterprise customers require for their storage subsystems to drive business-critical applications such as enterprise resource planning, data warehousing,
business intelligence, multimedia, and other large database applications.
''As more companies rely on the performance and availability of their storage area networks (SAN) to conduct their business, IBM is at the forefront in providing users with the most scaleable, flexible, storage solutions in the industry,'' said Robert Galush, director, PC Options and Peripherals, IBM Personal Systems Group. ''IBM's Fibre Channel Solution will help Netfinity customers maximize the performance of their Intel-based server storage environment while protecting their current enterprise storage investment.''
Today's announcement means Netfinity customers will be able to increase their current storage capabilities with the latest technology while benefiting from IBM's more than 30 years of enterprise storage expertise, service and on-site support, unmatched in the industry today.
IBM's Fibre Channel solution for Netfinity will include a RAID controller unit, RAID controller, PCI adapter and multi-port networking hub. These advanced products, capable of reliably storing and transmitting data at extremely high speeds over longer distances than traditional solutions, will allow customers to connect up to 126 devices per system PCI slot and up to 60 Wide Ultra SCSI hard drives per controller, setting the standard for scaleable, cost-effective enterprise storage area networks.
''This new Fibre Channel Solution will offer tremendous flexibility in clustering and high-availability solutions for business-critictal applications. In addition, our Fibre solution will enable Netfinity customers to implement server cluster configurations up to 10 km away from a primary network, vastly improving their disaster-recovery capabilities,'' said James Gargan, marketing program director, IBM Netfinity brand.
According to IDC, Fibre Channel is expected to capture 50 percent of the external open systems disk storage market by the end of the year 2000(1).
About IBM Netfinity
IBM Netfinity provides customers using industry-standard technologies with the industry's most reliable foundation for their networked businesses by delivering outstanding power, scalability, control and service. The IBM Netfinity family of products enables small, medium and large companies to manage their networked business systems -- from file and print capabilities to the most advanced PC applications -- virtually anytime, anywhere. Software from industry-leading vendors such as Lotus, Novell, Microsoft, SCO, SAP, Oracle and Baan are tested on all IBM Netfinity systems so that customers are empowered to
achieve their highest degree of productivity. In addition, through the worldwide IBM TechConnect program, customers can train and certify their specialists in all facets of IBM Netfinity technology.
Options by IBM
Options by IBM is committed to providing affordable, quality solutions that are designed and optimized to enhance and protect its customers' computing investment. In addition to the Fibre Channel solution for Netfinity, the Options by IBM portfolio includes other storage, communications/networking, memory, multimedia, and accessory products for desktop, workstation, server and mobile IBM and non-IBM systems. The Options by IBM Group distributes its products to channel customers including resellers, value-added resellers and retail superstores.
IBM is a registered trademark of the International Business Machines Corp. Windows, Windows 95, 98 and NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation. All other company product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
(1) Reference adapted from research documented in International Data Corp.'s ''1997 Storage Systems Year in Review.''
IBM news releases are available on the Internet, via the IBM Home Page at ibm.com. For more information about Options by IBM, visit our Web site at: ibm.com. For more information about Netfinity, visit: ibm.com.
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