Features - Enterprise Data Insights:

NetWorld+Interop AND COMDEX ATLANTA FOCUS ON NETWORK STORAGE

Recognizing that challenging economic times are forcing companies to think more strategically about network storage, Key3Media Group Inc has announced that NetWorld+Interop and COMDEX Atlanta will highlight critical storage issues, leading storage providers, and key storage technologies, September 9-13, 2002, at the Georgia World Congress Center.

"Due to an increased interest from buyers and an active deployment of solutions in the marketplace, NetWorld+Interop and COMDEX Atlanta has been designed to demystify the complex network storage market," said Valerie Williamson, president of Interop Worldwide. "This year we are proud to showcase the world's first interoperable iSCSI Network in the Interop Labs, where leading engineers will demonstrate the important role iSCSI will play in complimenting and enhancing existing storage solutions at a lower cost. Coupled with a content program taught by the leaders in the network storage industry, the show will provide attendees with the understanding required to set effective long-term storage strategies."

NetWorld+Interop and COMDEX Atlanta will feature educational sessions and showcase the industry's top and emerging storage technology companies, including Dot Hill, Eastman Kodak, Overland Data, Masterlock, companies included in the Storage Pavilion, and many more. Specific network storage highlights include:

The First Interoperable iSCSI network in the InteropNet Labs

Today, islands of storage network farms cannot readily communicate with one another, especially between remote locations. But several technologies are emerging to make IP storage networking a reality. Two of the most prominent technologies are Fibre Channel over IP and iSCSI. While the more traditional storage networks using Fibre Channel technologies continue to evolve, storage transport over TCP/IP via iSCSI is emerging as another solution - one that is being tested in this year's iLabs. The iLabs Storage Initiative team will present the first interoperable iSCSI network at NetWorld+Interop and COMDEX Atlanta. Additionally, engineers will demonstrate iSCSI's role in Storage over IP, and how to use the TCP/IP corporate enterprise backbone or WAN to enable remote data replication and disaster-recovery mechanisms. The iLabs Storage Initiative team will also test implementation of SAN to SAN over IP, and multi-vendor interoperability.

"From the introduction of iSCSI just two years ago, the dozens of companies working to develop solutions have all committed to work closely with each other to promote industry-wide interoperability," said Michael Frase, a customer support engineer at Cisco Systems and the iLabs Storage Initiative team lead. "The iLabs at NetWorld+Interop and COMDEX Atlanta 2002, with its multiple demonstrations of real-world solutions that customers can implement today, clearly illustrates the benefits of the cooperative efforts within this industry."

Storage Education Programs

Focused educational sessions, discussion panels and how-to workshops, will be offered on storage technologies. These programs are taught by industry experts, such as Jon Toigo, storage guru and author of over 1000 articles and eleven books including: The Holy Grail of Data Storage Management, Disaster Recovery Planning, 2nd Edition, and The Essential Guide to ASPs (Prentice Hall: September 2001). Education highlights include:

• Network Storage Strategies. This full-day program will provide actionable information on networked storage technology from product selection, deployment, and management, to benefits that networked storage can deliver-as well as the financial risks-and firsthand accounts of successful strategies for leveraging the technology to business advantage.
• A two-day tutorial on SAN solutions and technologies. This session provides a top-down approach to examining the information-flow requirements levied on a SAN.
• Strategic Interop. Strategic Interop includes a session Key Emerging Technology: Network Storage on network storage that details various alternatives to providing storage (DAN, NAS, SANs) and identifies a framework to choose the best for business needs.

Interop Network Storage Zone

The Interop Network Storage Zone, located on the show floor, features exhibitors with network storage solutions that encompass the key areas of network storage today, including SANs, NAS, Storage over IP, tape and CD ROM. By frequenting the Storage Zone, IT professionals can find the products and services that can deliver reliable network storage to their organizations. Exhibitors scheduled to be located in the Interop Network Storage Zone, include: Network Appliance Inc, FIBRE Channel Industry Association, Eastman Kodak, The Dering Company, Overland Storage and Masterclock Inc.

NetWorld+Interop and Comdex Atlanta 2002 is the East Coast's premier technology event focusing on today's hottest industry topics. In addition to storage, the Atlanta event will focus on three other technology cornerstones, including wireless, security, and VoIP. The weeklong event takes place September 9-13, 2002 at the Georgia World Congress Center. For up-to-date NetWorld+Interop and COMDEX 2002 information and to register for free access to the show floor and keynote sessions, please visit www.interop-comdex.com. For media registration, please contact Jennifer Clark via email at jennifer.clark@key3media.com.

About Key3 Media Group

NetWorld+Interop and COMDEX Atlanta 2002 is a Key3Media event. Key3Media Group Inc, is one of the world's leading producers of information technology tradeshows and conferences, serving more than 5,300 exhibiting companies and 1.3 million attendees through 60 events in 17 countries. Key3Media's products range from the IT industry's largest exhibitions such as COMDEX and NetWorld+Interop to highly focused events featuring renowned educational programs, custom seminars and specialized vendor marketing programs. For more information about Key3Media, visit www.key3media.com.

Contact: Key3Media Events Inc, Jennifer Clark, 650-372-6765, jennifer.clark@key3media.com.