Storage:

XIOtech Announces Strategy for Leading IP Storage Protocols

In anticipation of emerging IP storage technologies, XIOtech Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Seagate and a storage area network (SAN) pioneer, announced an IP storage strategy that leverages the leading protocols: iSCSI, iFCP, and FCIP. These newer technologies greatly expand the reach and widen the deployment of SANs. XIOtech's strategy allows customers to determine which protocol is best for them, knowing they can incorporate the MAGNITUDE SAN hardware platform into their solution and have an investment for the future.

XIOtech currently is working with IP vendors to create certified IP storage solutions. The newer IP storage technologies will extend the capabilities of the MAGNITUDE hardware platform, which incorporates all SAN components into one centralized configuration. With these solutions, customers can select the right IP technology for them and be confident that it will work with the MAGNITUDE. Customers also can use the resources available through XIOtech to help them in their choice of solutions.

New IP storage technologies will expand the SAN market into companies where IT departments have been hesitant to implement fibre channel because of their familiarity with the TCP/IP over Ethernet protocols used in local area networks. With IP storage, companies can create networks for disaster recovery, data replication, or remote site backup using a framework their IT managers are familiar with. They can extend SANs beyond fibre channel distances at a lower cost.

"Due to XIOtech's controller-based REDI software and virtualization, our ability to handle multiple protocols is significantly simplified," said Richard Blaschke, executive vice president of marketing for XIOtech. "This allows us to offer customers the connectivity that best suits their storage needs. Multiple storage protocols will exist for many years, including FC and IP; the best SAN solutions are those with the flexibility to work with all leading protocols."

About XIOtech

XIOtech Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Seagate, develops comprehensive network storage solutions for business customers. The XIOtech MAGNITUDE hardware platform is based on the company's exclusive REal-Time Data Intelligence (REDI) software family -- the first in the industry to incorporate true storage virtualization. The MAGNITUDE hardware platform, along with our comprehensive suite of application-specific software, makes storing, managing, safeguarding, and retrieving data on heterogeneous computing platforms easy and cost effective. For more information, visit XIOtech's Web site at www.xiotech.com, call 952-983-3000 or email info@xiotech.com.

About Seagate

Seagate is a leading provider of storage technology for Internet, business and consumer applications. The Company's products include disc drives for the Enterprise, PCs and Consumer Electronics, as well as storage area network (SAN) solutions. Seagate's market leadership is based on delivering award-winning products, customer support and reliability to meet the world's growing demand for information storage. Seagate can be found around the globe and at www.seagate.com.

Contact XIOtech, Eden Prairie, Rachel Gold, 952-983-2278, rachel_gold@xiotech.com.