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Technology Stocks : Son of SAN - Storage Networking Technologies -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: J Fieb who wrote (850)	11/2/1998 9:40:00 AM
From: Nick	Respond to of 4808

delayed 20 mins - disclaimerMonday November 2, 8:24 am Eastern Time Company Press Release 3Com, Legato Systems, and MTI Technology Announce Integration Alliance to Provide Pre-Tested, Interoperable Storage Area Network -SAN- Solutions Legato Systems and MTI Technology Corporation First Vendors in 3Com StorageConnect Compatibility Program, Providing Interoperable SAN Solutions SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 2, 1998-- 3Com Corporation (Nasdaq:COMS - news), a leading global networking company; Legato Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:LGTO - news), a leader in the enterprise storage management software market; and MTI Technology Corp. (Nasdaq:MTIC - news), a leading supplier of enterprise storage solutions, today announced that they have formed an integration alliance to deliver tested, interoperable SAN storage management and online storage solutions. By collaborating to pre-test ''virtual solutions'' for SANs, the three vendors plan to deliver to end-users the benefits of storage area networking in a market where solutions are not yet 'plug-and-play.' ''With the explosive growth in mission-critical data, IT managers are increasingly faced with two key challenges. First, how to build scalable, highly-available storage solutions to accommodate the rapid growth in high-speed data access, and second, how to effectively and efficiently manage and protect this mission-critical data,'' said Doug Spreng, senior vice president of 3Com's Client Access Business Unit. ''3Com, Legato, and MTI are addressing these challenges by bringing together our collective expertise and best-in-class products to deliver tested, proven turn-key backup and high-availability online storage solutions based on Storage Area Networking.'' SANs are creating a convergence of traditional storage subsystems, storage management software, and networking components to provide flexible, high-performance, highly available storage architectures. SANs move storage devices, such as tape libraries and online disk, from the legacy SCSI direct-connect architecture to a Fibre Channel network using hubs and switches. These Fibre Channel-based storage area networks provide enhanced performance, higher data availability, faster backup, and improved device sharing, all resulting in increased productivity and reduced total cost of ownership (TCO). Fibre Channel and SAN technologies are in their infancy and, consequently, there are few proven interoperable solutions in today's marketplace. 3Com, Legato, and MTI are addressing this issue with the introduction of tested, interoperable SAN Solutions as part of the 3Com StorageConnect Compatibility Program. The SAN solutions approved by the 3Com StorageConnect Compatibility Program allow customers to employ the benefits of storage area networking while reducing the risks associated with acquiring new products in the early stages of the SAN market. The combination of 3Com's StorageConnect Fibre Channel networking components, Legato Systems' enterprise storage management software, and MTI's Infinity tape libraries and Gladiator Fibre Channel disk arrays, will enable customers to take full advantage of both data protection and online storage applications utilizing the connectivity and performance of Fibre Channel-based SANs. MTI will also serve as the solution integrator for customers, enabling end-users to quickly deploy and achieve the benefits of these solutions, without the traditional obstacles associated with implementing new technology. MTI believes it is well positioned to bring these Certified SAN Solutions to market due to its consultative direct sales force, its company-owned customer service organization, and its experience in bringing complex enterprise storage solutions to market on a worldwide basis. ''Dataquest research indicates that data reliability, availability, and backup/restore are the most demanded storage functions,'' stated Thomas Lahive, senior analyst with Dataquest Server Storage and RAID Program. ''A Storage Area Network infrastructure, consisting of Fibre Channel switches and hubs, backup/restore software, RAID, and tape libraries, will revolutionize data protection. According to published Dataquest research, each of the companies in this announcement is a leading market share provider in their respective segments. This is the first announcement of three market share leaders working together to solve one of the leading storage problems, and demonstrating the value of a SAN.'' The 3Com, Legato and MTI Integration Alliance has focused on two initial offerings for SAN data protection and online storage solutions. Pre-tested SAN Data Protection Solutions for ''LAN-free Backup'' for Windows NT and UNIX Data Protection is one of the key drivers of SAN adoption, and Legato's Enterprise Storage Management Architecture (ESMA) enables customers to take advantage of the benefits offered by SAN topologies. Legato NetWorker Storage Nodes enable large, business-critical servers to be backed up directly to tape, under the control of a central Legato NetWorker server. This results in the ability to off-load backup traffic from the local area network and move it to the SAN, taking advantage of the bandwidth offered by 3Com's Fibre Channel networking hardware. Also, the immediate save and restore technology of Legato NetWorker Power Edition enables customers to take maximum advantage of Fibre Channel performance capabilities. Customers will also benefit from an increased return on investment through the sharing of tape resources. The any-to-any connectivity of SANs enables tape libraries to be connected to multiple servers, and Legato SmartMedia manages the sharing of media and devices between them. Legato SmartMedia enables drive and library sharing, managing application requests for media from a central location. This centralized management of distributed libraries results in improved manageability and reduced operating costs. Legato's powerful enterprise-wide data protection software will be offered with MTI's Infinity line of automated DLT tape libraries, ranging in capacity from a few hundred gigabytes to almost 100 terabytes. These high-performance tape libraries have been specifically designed to meet the backup, restore, and archival storage needs of businesses running centralized backups, or those implementing distributed departmental or remote office backup strategies. 3Com, in turn, will provide the networking hardware that will enable the libraries to be used on Fibre Channel-based storage area networks. ''SANs hold tremendous potential for optimizing storage management processes, and the 3Com, Legato, and MTI Integration Alliance will provide customers with tested, interoperable solutions,'' said Nora M. Denzel, senior vice president of Legato Systems, Inc. ''This is extremely important for customers interested in deploying SAN topologies, who want the assurance that the necessary storage management infrastructure will be available.'' Interoperable SAN Online Solutions The pre-tested SAN Online Solutions will offer both MTI's Gladiator RAID and StorageWare non-RAID disk storage systems in SAN configurations using the 3Com StorageConnect family of Host Bus Adapters (HBAs), hubs, and switches. This combination will offer users modular, high-performance, highly available and scalable data storage solutions that traditional direct-connect SCSI storage subsystems are unable to provide. MTI's Gladiator family of RAID arrays scale from several hundred gigabyte departmental storage solutions to over a terabyte of enterprise data center storage. Fibre Channel connectivity, coupled with cross-platform compatibility with Windows NT and popular UNIX-based servers, provides flexibility and investment protection as storage needs and/or server environments change over time. Interoperable Solutions from a Single Business Partner In addition to the benefit of being pre-tested, these solutions are offered with a complete set of professional services including architectural consulting, network design, installation, training, service, and support. Users can purchase the pre-tested SAN Solutions from MTI -- a recognized leader in the enterprise storage management market -- with the confidence that they have been certified by 3Com, Legato, and MTI. Additional offerings are currently planned to address specific customer storage management needs. ''The market demand for enterprise storage area networks has grown significantly over the past several quarters,'' said Kevin J. Liebl, vice president of marketing for MTI. ''However, users are asking for more than just point-products. They are asking for solutions that include 'certified' configurations backed by market leaders, as well as up-front consulting, installation, customer service, and training. The combination of these three companies' products gives us an exceptional opportunity to provide comprehensive solutions to the market.'' Availability The first MTI and Legato SAN solutions available through the 3Com StorageConnect Compatibility Program are scheduled to be available in the first quarter of 1999. The individual components of these solutions will be priced separately.

To: J Fieb who wrote (850)	11/2/1998 1:22:00 PM
From: Neil S	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4808

ITEM: To infinity and beyond: IP is going everywhere zdnet.com Tech Analysis: Protocol could soon run on every interconnect technology <<In this way, the high-capacity links of 1394 and Fibre Channel could become viable backbone technologies, competing with Gigabit Ethernet and ATM.>>

To: J Fieb who wrote (850)	11/2/1998 3:10:00 PM
From: w2j2	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4808

SOUTHBORO, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 2, 1998--The CLARiiON(R) Advanced Storage Division of Data General Corporation together with 3Com Corporation, today announced the formation of a cross-industry alliance to deliver Fibre Channel Storage Area Network (SAN) solutions for NT server platforms. The cross industry alliance represents a commitment between CLARiiON, the leader in Fibre Channel storage technology and 3Com, the leader in enterprise networking products, to work together to develop, qualify, and support total solutions for Storage Area Networks. Both 3Com and CLARiiON will deliver the technologies necessary to integrate the SANs into the existing enterprise network infrastructure. By providing proven solutions for specific customer problems, this cross industry alliance enables customers to benefit immediately from SANs without waiting for plug-and-play industry interoperability. "We are delighted that 3Com has chosen CLARiiON to join them in their efforts to deliver complete and certified SAN solutions to the industry," said Joel Schwartz, senior vice president and general manager of CLARiiON. "As a result of this unique relationship between industry leaders, CLARiiON and 3COM have effectively removed the obstacles that have been hindering the adoption of the next wave of storage solutions - the Storage Area Network." CLARiiON is participating in 3COM's StorageConnect Program by providing a broad range of value-added SAN solutions. These include the CLARiiON industry leading FC5000 Series Fibre Channel arrays, a storage management platform that scales with the growth of SAN storage, and high availability software. In addition, CLARiiON has licensed a suite of development tools to 3COM to accelerate SAN and network product integration. "Together, 3Com and CLARiiON can address one of the biggest challenges IT managers face today -- building a scaleable storage network architecture that delivers near continuous data availability," said Doug Spreng, senior vice president of 3Com's Client Access Business Unit. "3Com's work with CLARiiON will successfully yield tested, interoperable High Availability Online Storage solutions for Storage Area Networks." "Storage networks represent a major market opportunity. IDC forecasts $11.4 billion, 37% of all external server storage sold in 2002, will be in a Storage Network," said Robert Gray, research manager, storage subsystems, International Data Corporation (IDC). "An alliance of leading networking and storage suppliers marks a significant milestone in Storage Network development. As the market evolves, it is a structure for a powerful and well positioned source." Added Schwartz, "We look forward to continuing our work with 3Com to legitimize and deliver simplified SAN solutions to our customers." Future strategic directions for this alliance include expanded server platform support for NT 5.0, UNIX, and NetWare, tight storage management integration between 3Com Transcend Network Management and CLARiiON Navisphere, and other advanced Fibre Channel networking topologies. Solution overviews of the CLARiiON/3Com SAN will be presented at Comdex Fall '98 in Las Vegas, November 17 - 19, by appointment only. Appointments may be made by contacting CLARiiON or 3Com public relations. About 3Com 3Com Corporation (NASDAQ:COMS) enables individuals and organizations worldwide to stay more connected by communicating and sharing information and resources anytime, anywhere. As one of the world's preeminent suppliers of data, voice and video communications technology, 3Com has delivered networking solutions to nearly 200 million customers worldwide. The company provides large enterprise, small and medium enterprise, carriers and network service providers, and consumers with comprehensive, innovative information access products and system solutions for building intelligent, reliable and high performance local and wide area networks. For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at www.3com.com or the press site at 3com.com. About CLARiiON With more than 70,000 disk arrays and over 4 petabytes (4,000 terabytes) of usable RAID-protected storage shipped, the CLARiiON Advanced Storage Division of Data General Corporation is the leading supplier of advanced storage solutions to major computer system manufacturers, value-added storage resellers, and system integrators around the world. CLARiiON high-availability solutions are based on its Multidimensional Storage Architecture(tm) and feature a full range of flexible, scalable products for UNIX and Microsoft Windows NT platforms, including SCSI arrays, end-to-end Fibre Channel arrays, and enterprise storage management software. For more information about CLARiiON and its enterprise storage solutions, call 1-800-67-ARRAY, email info@clariion.com, or visit the web site at www.clariion.com. Data General (NYSE:DGN), based in Westboro, Massachusetts, is a major supplier of storage and enterprise computing solutions for customers worldwide. The company's products include CLARiiON Fibre Channel storage systems, high-end NT and UNIX-based AViiON servers, and related software and services. The company reported fiscal 1997 revenues of $1.5 billion. Additional information on the company, its products, and services is available on the Internet at www.dg.com.

To: J Fieb who wrote (850)	11/4/1998 4:12:00 PM
From: w2j2	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4808

EMC on SAN's: FRANKLIN, Mass., Nov 3 (Reuters) - EMC Corp (NYSE:EMC). on Tuesday detailed its multiyear strategy for creating networks of low-cost data storage devices capable of managing the explosion of corporate computer information and of meeting the need for employees to have immediate access to such data. At a press conference held at EMC's new, aircraft-hangar-sized assembly plant here, officials detailed their plans and introduced two new products to meet the mushrooming demand for storage on computers running Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows NT and to make such systems secure. EMC sees the market for networked storage systems among large companies, governments and universities reaching $35 billion in three years. The company has committed to capturing nearly a third of that total on the road to becoming a $10 billion company in 2001, up from $2.9 billion in 1997. "EMC is bringing the network to enterprise storage," Chief Executive Michael Ruettgers said in an interview after the news conference. "We allow the customer to consolidate that data in a single place," he said, while still giving computer users rapid access to such information. He noted that an increasing amount of corporate data is located in isolated or incompatible computer systems, requiring huge investments in hardware and network equipment just to move the data around a company. By replacing such equipment with networked storage systems, EMC promises to speed the ability of a company to respond to customer requests, while relieving existing data network bottlenecks, substantially cutting technology costs, and thus improving a company's overall competitiveness. EMC calls its new method of storing data Enterprise Storage Networks. Specifically, the company introduced Tuesday new high-speed data hub connections that multiply the storage capacity of NT-based computers from Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE:HWP), Compaq Computer Corp. (NYSE:CPQ), Dell Computer Corp.(NASDAQ:DELL) and Siemens AG (FSE:SIEG). EMC also plans to offer within 30 days new storage software, called Volume Logix, that beefs up the security and reliability of NT-based computers, giving them some of the same features that mainframes and other machines traditionally entrusted with key corporate data have had. EMC also revealed the results of an annual survey of 848 corporate technology managers worldwide that showed nearly 70 percent of them already using Windows NT systems to handle key operations like customer service call centers, electronic commerce, and retail sales data processing. EMC commissioned market research firm Find/SVP to conduct the survey. EMC officials painted a vision of a time, perhaps as early as 2001, when computer users will simply be able to connect their computers directly into a wall plug to gain direct access to a network created solely for the purpose of more efficiently moving data around the organization. EMC calls this "universal data tone," a take-off on the phone industry's concept of universal dial tone that's available any time one picks up a phone receiver. Ruettgers said that expected industry advances in network bandwidth, or the capacity to transfer huge volumes of data, and agreement among rival data storage suppliers on common standards should lead to an acceleration of the networked data storage market in coming years. Enterprise Storage Networks would slash the need for companies to buy additional computer processors and network equipment to handle data storage transfers, as the storage devices themselves and software and network switches provided by EMC would move the data directly, Ruettgers said. EMC officials estimated that more than 30 percent of the data now handled by mainframe and other large computers and another 30 percent of the traffic that now runs over internal data networks would instead run over storage network systems that offer greater customer responsiveness at lower cost. EMC's compound annual growth rate in excess of 50 percent this decade and the vast emerging potential for its networked storage products has made the stock a favorite on Wall Street in recent years. While lesser known than names like Microsoft, Intel and Cisco, the company is considered by many analysts to be the "dominant" player in the market for large data storage. It's a term that Ruettgers says his company now studiously avoids amid increased U.S. government antitrust scrutiny of the industry and the Microsoft trial underway in Washington. He carefully noted that EMC's 35 percent share of its market, while well ahead of rival IBM, the No. 2 player in the market, does not meet the U.S. government definition of market dominance.