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Raidtec To Ship Vixel's Switch In Raidtec's Storage Arrays

Vixel Corporation, a leading provider of storage networking technologies, has announced that Raidtec Corporation, a leader in NAS and SAN Storage Networking, will ship solutions with Vixel's InSpeed based Model 335 12-port 2Gb/s switch. With testing and certification fully completed, the Vixel Model 335 switch is available immediately in Raidtec's FibreArray HI12 and FibreArray 2104 storage arrays. Based in Cork, Ireland, Raidtec Corporation's products and solutions are available through distributors, system integrators and VARs in over 45 countries worldwide.

"What's significant about Raidtec's use of the Model 335 is that Vixel's InSpeed technology is now being successfully leveraged into a front-end configuration," said Jim McCluney, Vixel's president and CEO. "This underscores the simplicity and cost-efficiency of this highly pliable technology base. With the InSpeed based Model 335, Raidtec can offer their customers an extremely low cost 2Gb/s switch that incorporates management capabilities and the performance and scalability of competitors' switches costing several times more. Raidtec has been a great partner for Vixel and has always focused on providing exceptional value in their solutions, so we're quite excited that they are one of the first adopters of the new InSpeed-based Model 335."

The Raidtec FibreArray HI12 and 2104 are both host independent SAN storage arrays. Launched this past March, the FibreArray 2104 features Raidtec's unique RAID Off-Load Engine (ROLE) architecture and achieves high availability, performance and capacity for a range of enterprise applications. The FibreArray HI12 is ideally suited to help users scale from Server Attached Storage (SAS) to Storage Area Networks (SANs).

Vixel's InSpeed-based Model 335 is a 1U, 12-port 2Gb/s Fibre Channel switch that offers out-of-band management capabilities with a full array of port diagnostics, device performance and health monitoring, as well as the ability to integrate with SAN management applications via SNMP support. The 335 is standards compliant for easy integration into a variety of operating environments, including NT and UNIX.

Noel May, CTO and CEO of Raidtec Corporation, said, "We've been successfully incorporating Vixel's Fibre Channel switching products into our storage solutions for over two years. When the Model 335 was presented to us, we saw the opportunity to deploy it in our FibreArray line of storage arrays. Raidtec always strives to find new ways to increase the value proposition we bring to our customers, and the inclusion of Vixel's InSpeed-based Model 335 in our FibreArray line is yet another example of our customer-centric focus.

About Raidtec Corporation

Raidtec Corporation, founded in 1992, is a leading Storage Networking technology designer and manufacturer. By owning its own IP, Raidtec has the distinct ability to react quickly and aggressively to take advantage of market changes and opportunities. Raidtec products are available through Distributors, System Integrators, and VARs in over 45 countries worldwide. For more information, please contact Raidtec Corporation in the US at 888-724-3910 or by e-mail at raidtec@raidtec.com, in Europe at +(353) (21) 4353-440 or by e-mail at raidtec@raidtec.ie or via the World Wide Web at www.raidtec.com.

About Vixel Corporation

Vixel Corporation is creating disruptive storage networking technologies that consistently deliver easily managed, easily integrated, high performance interconnectivity at highly competitive prices. Vixel's award winning InSpeed technology is a unique switching architecture designed from the ground-up as an effortlessly managed storage interconnect solution. Optimized for the needs and price requirements of storage and server suppliers, InSpeed has been designed to overcome the cost/performance barriers inhibiting broad storage networking adoption. Vixel is an industry leader in providing a new breed of embedded storage switch products that improve data access and availability to business applications -- regardless of scale. Vixel also offers a new generation of high-performance storage switches designed for businesses of all sizes that need affordable and simple Storage Area Networks (SANs). As a leading provider of SAN solutions, Vixel's comprehensive portfolio of technology offerings also includes multivendor certified solutions and Fibre Channel switches and hubs that deliver reliable, interoperable solutions to its customers and partners. Vixel products and technologies are used by major system suppliers including Avid Technology, BlueArc, Fujitsu Softek, Hewlett Packard, Lucent, Network Appliance and Sun Microsystems and are available worldwide through its network of value-added resellers, alliances and OEMs. Vixel is an ISO 9001 certified company.

For more information, visit Vixel's Website at www.vixel.com. Vixel Corporation is headquartered at 11911 North Creek Parkway South, Bothell, Washington 98011 and can be contacted by phone at 425-806-5509 or e-mail at marketing@vixel.com.

Contact: Ed Luboja, 425-806-4530, eluboja@vixel.com.