Inrange launches IN-VSN Advanced Storage Networking Services

Issued by Cogent Communications for Shoden Data Systems
Johannesburg, 05 Apr 2002

Inrange Technologies has released the IN-VSN Advanced Storage Networking Services to simplify data and network management and provide interoperable and scalable storage networks.

According to Corni Naude, product manager at Shoden Data Systems, expansion of storage networks requires the ability to control, monitor and seamlessly scale the network. "Customers want a simple storage networking solution. They want to avoid forklift changes, complex meshes of directors/switches and costly disruptions as they scale their networks," he says.

Adds Naude: "Next-generation storage networks face fundamental requirements, including online and seamless scalability, security, and ease of management. The Inrange IN-VSN suite of services aims to reduce total cost of ownership by removing the complexity in storage networking."

IN-VSN Advanced Storage Networking Services comprise four feature sets, designed to enhance the extensibility, performance, security and management of the storage network. These are: ClearVSN, ExtendedVSN, PerformanceVSN and SecureVSN. These four feature sets enable users to build an enterprise infrastructure with the flexibility and performance needed to address today's diverse business needs.

. ClearVSN is the open management feature providing SAN administrators and third-party storage management vendors with clear and open visibility into the breadth of Advanced Network Services. IT managers can monitor the health of their networks and proactively learn how changes may impact their organisation before they occur.
. ExtendedVSN, integrated in the operating system of the IN-VSN FC/9000, supports the seamless, online expansion of the FC/9000 from 24- to 256-ports without any disruption to the network.
. PerformanceVSN brings traditional network monitoring principles to the SAN, providing both real-time and historical, application level statistics that are needed to adequately monitor open systems and FICON storage networks.
. SecureVSN brings Inrange's comprehensive set of access control and management security features to the user.

Inrange

Inrange Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq: INRG), a subsidiary of SPX Corporation, is the world leader in high-end scalable storage networking solutions and provides users with the building blocks to manage and expand large, complex storage networks simply without geographic limitations.

Inrange's "core-to-edge-to-anywhere" solutions solve the growing storage challenges facing today's IT organisations, while providing investment protection and a proven foundation for future growth. Inrange has a 34-year history of providing mission-critical networking technologies, servicing over 2 200 customers in 90 countries.

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:

1. Storage - the HDS Freedom storage range, including Lightning 9900 and 9200.

2. Connectivity - the Inrange FC/9000 Fibre Channel/ FICON Director, ESCON Directors and Channel Extenders.

Hitachi Data Systems

Committed to helping customers exploit the value of information technology for success in the Internet economy, Hitachi Data Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd (NYSE:HIT), is a leading provider of business solutions for the world's most information-intensive corporations. For further information on Hitachi Data Systems, access www.hds.com.

Hitachi Ltd

Hitachi, Ltd, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's leading global electronics companies, with fiscal 2000 (ended 31 March 2001) consolidated sales of 8 417 billion yen ($67.9 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.

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