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Pirus Networks Switch Receives Brocade Verification Interop

Pirus Networks, a leader in intelligent storage switches, announced that the Pirus PSX-1000 been verified by Brocade as interoperable with Brocade Storage Area Networking (SAN) infrastructure in testing conducted through the Brocade Fabric Aware Program, an end-to-end interoperability initiative for SANs. The program is a comprehensive testing and configuration initiative designed to foster SAN interoperability in multi-vendor Brocade SAN environments.

Testing was conducted at the Brocade interoperability labs, which are stateof -the-art facilities supporting end-to-end interoperability and performance testing of SAN products in multi-vendor and large fabric SAN environments. In the testing configurations, the PSX-1000 enabled the extension of Fibre Channel SAN storage assets to applications and users across IP networks.

"It is a business reality that there is no `silver bullet' that can solve the enterprise storage challenge," said Rich Napolitano, president and CEO of Pirus Networks. "As a result, interoperability must occur, not only between different storage approaches, but also among the different vendor solutions for those approaches. The Pirus founding mission was to facilitate interoperability in heterogeneous storage environments by creating an intelligent storage infrastructure that increases performance and efficiency while reducing complexity and cost. We are pleased to be a part of the Brocade Fabric Aware Program, which is one of the premier industry interoperability initiatives that is focused on addressing customers' real world needs."

Pirus Networks was first-to-market in delivering a new generation of intelligent storage networking switches that converge advanced storage services and multi-protocol access in a single, centrally-managed platform. The Pirus PSX-1000 was designed to work in conjunction with Fibre Channel switches to enable the creation of a single, unified storage network to support SAN (block), NAS (file), and IP storage (iSCSI) based storage needs. As a Brocade Fabric Threads Developer, Pirus is committed to provide customers with solutions that help preserve existing investments in current storage systems, vastly reduce the complexity of their storage networks, boost operational efficiency and lower the overall cost of storage.

"We are pleased that Pirus has successfully completed the Fabric Aware testing with Brocade fabric switches in multi-vendor SAN environments," said Jay Kidd, Brocade vice president of Product Marketing. "Storage area networks are being deployed worldwide at a rapid rate as a scalable, high performance networking foundation for storage environments. The Fabric Aware program is an example of our continued commitment to delivering end-to-end interoperability to SAN customers."

About the Fabric Aware Program

The Brocade Fabric Aware program is a comprehensive testing and configuration initiative designed to foster end-to-end SAN interoperability in multi-vendor storage networking environments. As part of the program, companies agree to test in SAN configurations that comprise a heterogeneous mix of servers, storage subsystems, Brocade SilkWorm fabric switches and other SAN technologies. Brocade has created an interoperability lab comprising a heterogeneous SAN fabric, in which the company tests and validates partner equipment in specific configurations. Vendors receive Brocade Fabric Aware qualification after completing tests to confirm that vendors' products meet interoperability guidelines.

Visit www.brocade.com/partners/fabric_aware_program.jhtml.

About Pirus Networks

Pirus Networks, a leader in intelligent storage networking, was founded in December 1999 and is well funded by premier organizations, including StorageNetworks and VERITAS Software, as well as venture firms Bessemer Venture Partners, BlueStream Ventures, Charles River Ventures and JAFCO Ventures. The company has a seasoned management and technical team that combine expertise in storage and networking.

Pirus is active in industry standard organizations, including membership in the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA), Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) IP Storage Working Groups and the Fibre Channel Industry Association (FCIA). With the delivery of the industry's first Storage Utility Switch, the PSX-1000, Pirus is creating a new category of intelligent storage networking systems that are designed to reduce storage ownership costs and streamline data management. Pirus is a privately held corporation, headquartered in Acton MA. Phone: 978-206-9100 or www.pirus.com.