Auspex, HDS verify interoperability of SAN-NAS gateway with Hitachi Freedom Storage

Issued by Cogent Communications for Shoden Data Systems
Johannesburg, 01 Oct 2002

Auspex Systems and Hitachi Data Systems have announced the successful completion of interoperability tests of Auspex's NSc3000 Network Storage Controller, a file-serving platform for network-attached storage (NAS), with Hitachi Freedom Storage Lightning 9900 and Thunder 9200 systems.

According to Fanie van Rensburg, MD of local HDS representative, Shoden Data Systems, this will provide heterogeneous connectivity when sharing a common storage array pool between direct-attached storage (DAS), SAN and NAS, giving customers the flexibility and freedom to choose the storage topologies that meet their specific business and IT requirements.

"Customers can now consolidate their existing storage into a single, easy-to-manage SAN-class storage pool in both the mid-tier and enterprise environments," he explains. "Auspex's NSc3000 provides enterprise-level NAS functionality for mission-critical environments when attached to the Lightning 9900 Series systems and for mid-tier implementations with the SAN-ready Thunder 9200 storage platform. Customers can now manage both NAS file-based information and SAN block data on the same storage platform connected directly or through SAN switches. The combined offering changes the paradigm of storage by eliminating the need for standalone NAS systems."

"Promoting open, interoperable storage solutions is a key principle of our TrueNorth strategy," adds Scott Genereux, VP, Global Marketing and Business Development for Hitachi Data Systems. "By verifying interoperability with Auspex we give our customers the ability to choose the most suitable products to fit their storage needs."

Shoden Data Systems

With offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town, Shoden Data Systems (Pty) Ltd is the sole distributor for Hitachi Data Systems in SA. In addition, Shoden Data Systems is the sole distributor of INRANGE Technologies Corporation, the world's leading manufacturer of Channel Extenders, Fibre Channel and ESCON/FICON directors. Shoden Data Systems is also a Veritas Premier Partner and provides integrated, managed, best-of-breed storage area network solutions to the marketplace.

Based on more than 200 collective years of experience in the service, support and marketing of Hitachi products, Shoden Data Systems uses its intellectual capital and industry leading products to provide customers with total solutions in the storage, enterprise servers and connectivity arenas. The following offerings are available:

* Storage - the HDS Freedom storage range, including Lightning 9900 and 9200.
* Connectivity - the Inrange FC/9000 Fibre Channel/ FICON Director, ESCON Directors and Channel Extenders.

Hitachi Data Systems

Hitachi Data Systems, the fastest growing enterprise storage provider, is a leading supplier of storage hardware, software, solutions and services. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd (NYSE: HIT), Japan's largest electronics company, Hitachi Data Systems is committed to providing the storage infrastructure for the world's most information-intensive corporations. With 2 600 employees, Hitachi Data Systems does business through direct sales and resellers in the public and private sectors in 170 countries on six continents. Its customers include more than 50% of Fortune 100 companies. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.hds.com.

Hitachi, Ltd

Hitachi, Ltd, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's leading global electronics companies, with fiscal 2001 (ended 31 March 2002) consolidated sales of 7 993.7 billion yen ($60.1 billion*). The company manufactures and markets a wide range of products, including computers, semiconductors, consumer products and power and industrial equipment. For more information on Hitachi, Ltd, please visit Hitachi's Web site at http://global.hitachi.com.

Auspex Systems

Auspex introduced the world's first network-attached storage (NAS) server shortly after its founding in 1987, creating a new breed of storage appliance offering significant performance and administrative benefits over general-purpose file servers. Auspex's enterprise-class network servers are used worldwide for consolidated information storage and delivery. Auspex also is leading the convergence of NAS with storage area networks (SANs) with the NSc3000 Network Storage Controller, the first multi-vendor SAN-to-NAS gateway. The company is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with sales offices and channel partners throughout the US and around the globe. Its shares are traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol ASPX. For more information, visit www.auspex.com.

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