Plasmon/UniTree to Promote Near Line Storage for Unix/Linux

Plasmon, the expert in removable storage solutions, has signed an agreement with UniTree Software, a leading provider of near line mass storage solutions to the high end Unix and Linux market. The partnership will combine the expertise of both parties to deliver complete automated data management to today's enterprises.

Both Plasmon and UniTree believe that near line storage is key to providing cost effective solutions to problems associated with growing data mountains, whether these are in databases (data warehouses) or not. Plasmon and UniTree will work together to build market share. Plasmon will promote UniTree Database Near Line (UDNL) for database users and UniTree Central File Manager (UCFM) where databases are not used but files present storage challenges.

Nigel Dear, European Director - Sales and Marketing, at UniTree comments: "Plasmon has an excellent reputation in the market along with well developed sales channels. Partnering with Plasmon not only gives us access to the company's optical and tape storage products, but we can maximise on Plasmon's established position in the marketplace and offer UniTree's solutions to a much wider audience than before."

Robert Neely, European Sales Director (EMEA) at Plasmon says: "From the Plasmon perspective, the partnership with UniTree is exciting news. It strengthens our data warehouse offering as well as reinforcing Plasmon technology into the Unix and Linux environments. Our strategy is to provide solutions for on-line and near-line applications - linking with UniTree strengthens this positioning further."

UniTree helps organisations to manage stored data more efficiently and cost effectively. UDNL and UCFM constantly monitor hard disk usage and move inactive data to lower cost near line repositories such as optical jukebox and tape. Because Plasmon offers storage solutions based around a whole range of media including LTO tape and MO and DVD optical, it supports UniTree in providing a storage management solution which meets the exact needs of the end user. UniTree's near line storage solutions allow users to utilise any combination of Plasmon hardware.

Typical users of near line storage include defense, science/human genomics/meteorology, CAD, finance/banking, oil and gas, medical imaging, Internet (e.g. B2B/B2C Internet Storage Services Providers) and pre-press.

About Plasmon

Established in 1987, Plasmon plc is an international data storage business headquartered from the UK specialising in removable data storage technologies. Plasmon's architectural configurations provide the highest level of automated flexibility through the implementation of 12-inch TrueWORM (write once, read many), 5¼ inch MO (magneto optical), network attached RAID, LTO-Ultrium, Magstar-MP, CD-ROM/CD-R, DVD-RAM, DVD-R and media. Plasmon has been involved in extensive research, development and manufacturing of Phase Change media products since the mid 1980's and also provides a range of storage management software and network-attached storage solutions.

With world-wide headquarters in the UK and operations across Europe and the US, the company also has manufacturing facilities in the U.K., and in the U.S. in Colorado and Minnesota. Plasmon's Worldwide Headquarters and European Sales and Marketing are located at: Whiting Way, Melbourn, Royston, Hertfordshire SG8 6EN; tel: +44 (0)1763 262963 fax: +44 (0)1763 264444. www.plasmon.co.uk, e-mail: sales@plasmon.co.uk.

Plasmon products are sold to OEMs and also through VAR and distributor channels.

About UniTree Software

Established in 1990 and headquartered in the greater Silicon Valley, UniTree has a global presence and develops storage software solutions that cost-effectively manage growing volumes of data. UniTree supports multiple hardware platforms including Sun, SGI, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard and Linux using a host of tape and optical libraries. UniTree's European headquarters are located in Marlow, UK. Tel (+ 44) (0) 1628 486773. Fax (+44) (0) 1628 486792. e-mail: nigel@unitree.com , Web: www.unitree.com.

Contact Sally Fisher, Plasmon Data, Marketing Communications Manager, Europe. Tel: +44 (0)1763 262963, sfisher@plasmon.com.