Crossroads Storage Routers Part of Tech Data's Exclusive LAN-free Backup Bundle
Crossroads Partners with Computer Associates, Exabyte and Gadzoox to Create a Complete "Out of the Box" Storage Area Network (SAN) Solution Offered Exclusively Through Tech Data Corporation
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 29, 2000-- Crossroads Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:CRDS - news), the leading developer and manufacturer of Fibre Channel storage routers, today announced that Tech Data Corporation, a leading Fortune 500 global provider of IT products and logistics services to resellers worldwide, will offer Crossroads storage routers in its exclusive LAN-free Backup Bundle.
The two companies have also entered into a partnership in which Tech Data will supply Crossroads' entire line of storage routers to their network of resellers.
``Tech Data's LAN-free Backup Bundle will give resellers the ability to offer their customers a complete `Out of the Box' SAN solution, allowing companies to immediately reap the benefits of this emerging technology,' said Bob LiVolsi, senior vice president of sales at Crossroads. ``Furthermore, our distribution agreement with Tech Data will give Crossroads entrance to the top 50 resellers in the country as well as benefit from their worldwide distribution network.'
With expected revenues of $11.4 billion by 2002, LAN-free Backup provides faster, more reliable and scalable storage environments to accommodate companies' growing data needs. The solution will be made up of Computer Associates' ARCserve IT product, Exabyte's EZ-17 Library, Gadzoox Gibraltar GL Hub or Capellix Switch, and Crossroads 4250 LVD storage router.
``Crossroads storage routers are an essential component for offering complete LAN-free backup solutions,' said Roy Appelbaum, vice president and general manager of networking and storage technologies product marketing for Tech Data Corporation.
``Their storage routers provide the portal into the LAN-free environment linking the customer's existing investments in SCSI equipment to the benefits of the SAN. With this exclusive bundle offer that includes support from Tech Data's dedicated SAN business unit, resellers will receive the best products and service levels available in the industry.'
Crossroads storage routers are ideal for connecting existing SCSI storage to a Fibre Channel SAN -- whether in a workgroup, departmental or enterprise level environment. By utilizing SAN routing technology, the time to backup data is reduced by 80 percent over LAN-based methods, while reducing equipment and maintenance costs by centralizing data storage. Crossroads storage routers are intelligent and SAN-aware, making advanced data storage solutions like server-free backup possible.
Also under the partnership agreement, Tech Data will distribute Crossroads' entire line of Fibre Channel-SCSI storage routers, including the recently released 4X50 series. This third generation of storage routers, which includes the 4150, 4250 and 4450 models, can be enhanced by future products such as the active fabric agent of server-free backup, FCP-2 (second generation Fibre Channel Protocol), FC_Tape and low voltage differential (LVD) SCSI connectivity.
About Tech Data Corporation
Tech Data Corporation (Nasdaq:TECD - news), founded in 1974, is a leading global provider of IT products, logistics management and other value-added services. The Fortune 500 company and its subsidiaries serve more than 100,000 technology resellers in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. Tech Data's extensive service offering includes pre- and post-sale training and technical support, financing options, configuration and assembly services as well as a full range of award-winning electronic commerce solutions. The company generated sales of $16.1 billion in its most recent 12-month fiscal period, which ended Oct. 31, 1999.
About Crossroads Systems Inc.
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Crossroads Systems (Nasdaq:CRDS - news) is the leading provider of storage routers for Fibre Channel Storage Area Networks (SANs). Crossroads' storage routers enable key Intranet, Internet and e-commerce applications. By using storage routers and SANs, customers can more effective and efficiently store, manage and ensure the integrity and availability of data in the Internet economy. Crossroads supplies its customers with the Crossroads Verified SAN (CV-SAN) solution guide to simplify SAN design and installation, accelerate SAN adoption, and verify interoperability of SAN solutions. The more than 3,000 verified configurations in CV-SAN are available on the Web using the Crossroads online configurator at www.crossroads.com. Industry leading OEMs such as ADIC, ATL, Bull, Compaq, Dell, Exabyte, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi Data Systems, McDATA, Fujitsu-Siemens and StorageTek as well as top resellers and distributors including Bell Microproducts, Cranel, Datalink, nStor, Pinacor, Polaris Services and Vangard have partnered with Crossroads to provide these solutions to their customers. For more information on Crossroads Systems, its products or employment opportunities, please call 800/643-7148 or visit www.crossroads.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are: Crossroads' limited operating history which makes it difficult to accurately predict revenues and budget for expenses for future periods; the extent of Crossroads' future operating losses and negative cash flow; the dependence of Crossroads' business on the storage area network market which is new and unpredictable; Crossroads' ability to develop new and enhanced products that achieve market acceptance; the continuation of Crossroads' successful relationships with its limited number of OEM customers; Crossroads' ability to retain and recruit key personnel to manage its business successfully; the quarterly fluctuations of Crossroads' operating results; Crossroads' ability to integrate or successfully achieve the benefits of the acquisition of Polaris Communications and any subsequent acquisition or strategic relationship; and that Crossroads' stock price could be volatile regardless of Crossroads' actual financial performance and other factors detailed in Crossroads' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on 10-Q.
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Contact:
Crossroads Systems Inc., Austin
Sandra Helsel, 512/794-2761
shelsel@crossroads.com
or
Springbok Technologies Inc.
Roe Ridley Thiessen, 512/615-1604
roe@springbok.com |
