Compaq Computer Corporation strengthened its position today as the world`s leading storage systems supplier and leading SAN provider by delivering the industry`s broadest, most versatile, and most cost-effective solutions for replicating business-critical data between remote sites. These offerings significantly enhance Compaq`s NonStop eBusiness solutions and set the foundation for Open SAN business resumption capabilities that are both secure and affordable over replication distances spanning continents.
"As business success depends more and more on the availability of customer data, enterprises around the world need more cost-effective solutions for replicating this data over long distances for disaster recovery purposes," said Mark Lewis, Vice President of Compaq Enterprise Storage Software. "The SANworks Data Replication Manager enhancements we are announcing today provide our customers with the widest range of interconnect options available so they can select the most cost-effective, secure, and efficient methods for implementing business resumption strategies. All this adds up to increased business velocity."
The innovations announced by Compaq today were developed with solutions from industry-leading storage, infrastructure and telecommunications providers, including Brocade Communications Systems, Computer Network Technology (CNT) and Nortel Networks.
SANworks Data Replication Manager (DRM) can now replicate SAN-based data over ATM telecommunication lines at T1/E1, T3/E3, and OC3 speeds, and over dark fiber using state-of-the-art Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM). DWDM multiplexes data over public and private fiber optic networks at distances up to 100 kilometers (62.5 miles) with a potential bandwidth of 100 MB/second. ATM connectivity supports data replication over distances measured in thousands of miles. SANworks DRM also supports both synchronous and asynchronous operation plus bi-directional data transfers over the same link to maximize price/performance. It provides write history logging to maximize efficiency and features stretched cluster support as well.
"Connecting islands of SANs across wider geographic areas is the next step in the evolution of storage area networking," said Peter Tarrant, BROCADE Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. BROCADE`s Remote Switch capability provides support for Remote SAN fabrics - based on BROCADE SilkWorm Fibre Channel fabric switches - that span extended distances, using leading technology from companies such as Compaq. We are pleased to be a Compaq partner in delivering these important new capabilities to the enterprise storage market. As the leading supplier of Fibre Channel fabric switches, BROCADE is committed to extending the value of open, standards-based SANs to our customers worldwide."
Mark Knittel, GroupVice President, Worldwide Product Operations at Computer Network Technology (CNT), said, "Likewise, CNT is focused on extending the reach of Open SANs through cost-effective, wide-area ATM connections. Along with being on the cutting edge of SAN technology, our leadership position with storage networking infrastructures and wide-area connectivity makes CNT an ideal partner to help Compaq customers increase their service levels and improve overall business flexibility."
In addition to supporting a broad range of SAN-WAN-SAN connectivity options, SANworks Data Replication Manager also supports data encryption using Compaq-qualified systems from Celotek Corporation. Celotek`s CellCase products provide secure, high-speed networking over ATM to protect sensitive data from intrusion by unauthorized users. This capability can satisfy corporate and legal data security requirements.
Remote replication using fiber and DWDM is desirable when customers have existing fiber optic cables and don`t want to install additional cables between sites due to cost or other constraints. DWDM use different wavelengths of light to multiplex signals onto one fiber optic cable. This multiplies the data capacity of the cable and lowers the cost per signal. SANworks DRM has been qualified by using DWDM equipment from Nortel Network`s market-leading optical portfolio and Finisar Corporation`s Opticity Service Provisioning Provider. DRM has also been qualified using metro area fiber optic networks provided by Level 3 Communications.
For more information about today`s announcement, see the Compaq web site at: www.Compaq.com/storage.ba
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Compaq Computer Corporation, a Fortune Global 100 company, is the largest supplier of computing systems in the world. Compaq designs, develops, manufactures and markets hardware, software, solutions, and services, including industry-leading enterprise computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, and communications products, commercial desktop and portable products, and consumer PCs for the NonStop Internet world.
Compaq products and services are sold in more than 200 countries directly to businesses, through a network of authorized Compaq marketing partners, and directly to businesses and consumers through Compaq`s e-commerce Web site at http://www.compaq.com. Compaq markets its products and services primarily to customers from the business, home, government, and education sectors. Customer support and information about Compaq and its products and services are available at http://www.compaq.com.
Compaq, Registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. This release contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include implementation of a new model of distribution; the failure of systems associated with order fulfillment; changes in product mix; inventory risks due to shifts in market demand; continued competitive factors and pricing pressures; market responses to pricing actions and promotional programs; volatility of certain equity investments; component shortages; and instability in developing countries that may affect operations. Further information on the factors that could affect Compaq`s financial results are included in its SEC filings, including the latest annual report on Form 10-K, and the latest quarterly report on Form 10-Q.