Compaq makes SAN a simple, affordable reality lower-cost SAN solution

Demonstrating its commitment to provide customers with flexible storage solutions to manage their exploding data needs in the Internet economy, Compaq Computer today introduced a simple and affordable new storage area network (SAN) that delivers dot-coms, enterprises and departmental workgroups the high-velocity storage capabilities to simplify storage management and reduce business downtime.

Compaq`s new StorageWorks RAID Array 4100 SAN helps customers solve their most demanding storage problems with business flexibility and a clear upgrade path to the full complement of Compaq storage products. Compaq today also announced its new TaskSmart N-Series NAS appliance server, the first NAS product to offer the breakthrough economics of standards-based computing.

"Compaq is committed to providing our customers with access to their data the way they want it - and the tools to manage that data - wherever they are in the evolution of their companies," said Julian Simpkins, Compaq`s Storage Global Business Unit. "With the solutions introduced today, customers can immediately take advantage of the industry`s most complete range of interoperable, standards-based server and storage products from direct attached storage to NAS and SANs."

The RA4100 SAN broadens Compaq`s offering of solutions that adhere to its Enterprise Network Storage Architecture (ENSA) strategy, with lower cost, heterogeneous connectivity and SAN-level resource management. The complete, affordable SAN solution delivers both the interconnectivity and interoperability needed in today`s 24x7 environments, while also providing a bridge to the Open SAN of tomorrow.

The RA4100 SAN solution takes advantage of many of the robust management features common across the StorageWorks and SANworks product lines. Additional benefits include tight integration with industry standard servers and support for a range of operating systems including Windows NT Server, NetWare, Windows 2000, SCO UNIX and Linux.

"Compaq is continuing to deliver on its promise to give customers everything they need to build, manage and grow an Internet-based infrastructure," said David Hill, research director at Aberdeen Group. "Today`s introduction of an industry standard-based NAS solution and entry-level SAN demonstrates Compaq`s commitment to deliver robust, interoperable solutions with a clear upgrade path."

The ENSA Strategy

Compaq`s ENSA strategy, announced in 1998, provides scaleable architecture, common management and investment protection as the enterprise customers implement its storage strategy. This forward-thinking architecture allows Compaq to continue delivering innovative solutions such as the StorageWorks RA 4100 SAN Solution. ENSA creates an environment that allows a single storage repository to extend to any location in the world, vastly simplifying data management with a worldwide utility storage system - all made possible within a framework of open standards and strong industry partnerships.

See www.compaq.com/storage/RA4100SAN for product fact sheets and the specifications on the complete range of Compaq storage offerings.