Gadzoox and DataCore to Deliver Networked Storage Pool

Gadzoox Networks, a leading provider of SAN products and DataCore Software Corporation, an innovator in SAN software, announced a development partnership that would deliver the industry's first open systems networked storage pool solution. Network storage pools simplify the management of storage in multiserver heterogeneous environments, resulting in substantial savings in equipment and management costs.

"This partnership addresses a pent-up demand for interoperable SAN solutions that move the users closer to the promise of connecting any storage to any server in a storage network," said Robert Gray, director storage subsystems at IDC. "The power of this partnership lies in a fact that it combines the resources of market leaders and break-through architecture thinking."

Networked storage pools combine the power of DataCore's drag-and-drop storage domain server with the easy-to-use Capellix? SAN switch from Gadzoox. Networked storage pools allow different types of storage to be aggregated into a single logical storage resource from which virtual volumes can be served up to different types of application servers.

The Companies believe that the networked storage pool represents the next logical step in the evolution of SANs. They also believe that since the inception of SANs, SAN deployment has been driven by specific data-centric applications in the form of "SAN islands." As the deployment of SAN islands continues, businesses will be faced with the task of interconnecting these islands in order to centralise storage management operations or create a networked storage pool. Networked storage pools provide the critical functions needed to manage the growth in storage demand from e-commerce, Web-based applications, database growth, network data-intensive applications, and disaster tolerance capabilities.

"Users are struggling with the rising cost and complexity of managing disparate, disconnected storage systems," said Bill Sickler, Gadzoox's president and CEO. "The partnership leverages the storage networking skills of Gadzoox and storage domain server software expertise from DataCore, to offer customer easy to manage scaleable SAN solution for today's heterogeneous computing environments."

"Gadzoox simplifies the process of building robust SANs with switches that are high-performance under the most intense workloads," stated George Teixeira, president and CEO of DataCore Software. "This is a great fit with DataCore's easy-to-use management software. Together, we'll create a truly interoperable SAN solution."

About DataCore Software

DataCore Software Corporation is an innovator in storage domain server software. Its software products help companies respond to accelerating growth and change in storage requirements by creating a shared storage pool from networked storage elements. DataCore serves information-intensive organizations through channel and OEM partners. Founded in 1998, DataCore is headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., with branch offices in Research Triangle Park, Silicon Valley and the UK. It is privately held, with funding from New Enterprise Associates, One Liberty Ventures and Net Angels. DataCore is an active member of the Fibre Channel Industry Alliance (FCIA) and the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA). It can be reached at www.datacoresoftware.com and 888- 389-9273.

About Gadzoox Networks Inc

Company provides networking solutions for enterprise storage with scaleable, managed SAN solutions based on Gadzoox's Fibre Channel hubs, switches and management products. Serving as modular building blocks, Gadzoox's products are designed to address the growth in enterprise data through the evolving capabilities of SANs. According to the most recent report from market research firm IDC dated February 2000, Gadzoox holds the largest installed base of combined managed switch and hub port shipments from 1997 through 1999. Gadzoox is an ISO 9001 certified Company. Gadzoox's corporate headquarters is based in San Jose, California with its European headquarters in the UK in Berkshire. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.gadzoox.com.