Adaptec, Dell, Hitachi Data Systems, IBM, Intel, Nishan Systems, QLogic, and Qwest Communications Demonstrate Coast-to-Coast IP Storage Interoperability.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 24, 2001

Speeds of 2.5 Gigabits per Second on a 10Gbps Link;

Distance No Longer A Barrier -- Industry's First Gigabit

Speed Transcontinental IP Storage Network Completed

Eight of the leading computer, storage, and networking companies today announced the resoundingly successful deployment of the industry's first wire-speed, coast-to-coast IP Storage network. This visionary effort, dubbed the "Promontory Project" after the location where America's first transcontinental railroad was joined, eclipses all previous distance records for the efficient and flawless transfer of mass storage data. Proving that distance is no longer a barrier to storage networking success, the Promontory Project provides the path for IT professionals to more efficiently manage the storage challenges they face, including information overload, rolling power outages, and natural disasters.

"The ability to transport critical storage data across vast geographic distances with little sacrifice in performance is a huge step forward in the history of the storage industry," said Aamer Latif, president and chief executive officer of Nishan Systems, the organizer of this demonstration. "Businesses require high levels of protection for their data. Enabling services such as long-distance backup, recovery, and mirroring at 1, 2.5, or 10 Gigabits per second provides the highest possible level of data protection and instant access, should disaster strike."

Due to the exponential rate of data growth, IT administrators continue to seek ways to maximize their storage utilization and manage more data with greater efficiency and reduced costs. Being able to transport and manage storage from coast to coast creates tremendous value for the Promontory companies' customers.

The Promontory Project presents a complete storage solution that exemplifies the best-in-class capabilities of the project participants. Promontory participants in the phase one demonstration include:

Participants (alphabetical)              Capabilities Provided

Adaptec (Nasdaq:ADPT)                    Server connectivity

Dell (Nasdaq:DELL)                       Servers and storage devices

Hitachi Data Systems (NYSE:HIT)          Fibre Channel storage devices

IBM (NYSE:IBM)                           IP Storage devices

Intel (Nasdaq:INTC)                      Server connectivity

Nishan Systems                           IP Storage switching

QLogic (Nasdaq:QLGC)                     Server connectivity

Qwest Communications International Inc.  Multi-gigabit coast-to-coast
(NYSE:Q)                                 IP links and CyberCenter
                                         facilities

Participating companies expressed their enthusiasm for the project and its far-reaching implications. Ram Jayam, vice president and general manager of Adaptec's Storage Networking Group, had this to say about the project: "The Promontory Project presents the first public, multi-vendor demonstration of gigabit speed IP Storage connections across the United States and Adaptec is pleased to participate by providing its iSCSI Host Bus Adapters. As a technological shift, IP Storage offers enterprises and service providers a means to build large-scale, wire-speed, mass storage connections that can span the globe."

"Our work with Nishan and interest in IP Storage is aligned with Dell's strategy of making SANs easier to implement and more available to all of our storage customers," said Russ Holt, vice president of Dell's Enterprise Systems Group. "This project takes another step toward the promise of IP Storage that will ultimately help customers lower data storage costs, better manage SANs globally, and improve bulk data transfer speeds."

"The Promontory project provides excellent support for Hitachi Data Systems' open storage strategy, in which we aim to give customers complete freedom to choose the technologies they believe will best suit their business needs," said Hu Yoshida, Hitachi Data Systems chief technology officer. "The results of this project, which involves the cooperative efforts of leading storage and communications vendors, sends a powerful message to customers that they will be able to choose an open-storage, wide-area-network solution with standards-based IP and Ethernet networking protocols to access their mission-critical data over tremendously long distances."

"With this cross-country demonstration of high-bandwidth networking, IBM is helping unleash the power and versatility of IP Storage applications by overcoming the limitations of proprietary or closed networking fabrics," said Roland Hagan, vice president of IBM's Storage Networking Division. "The IBM TotalStorage IP Storage 200i appliance has proven to be an excellent distributed storage solution for providing pooled storage for servers distributed across local, metropolitan, and wide area topologies."

"When planning for global deployments of storage systems, organizations need to trust that products from multiple IP Storage vendors will work together. The success of this first coast-to-coast transmission of I/O block data using Gigabit Ethernet and iSCSI over IP Networks attests to the great gains made by vendors in the area of interoperability," said Greg Lang, vice president and general manager of Intel's Platform Networking Group. "We will continue to work with other IP Storage vendors to help ensure the continued progress of Gigabit Ethernet, iSCSI, iSNS, and other open industry standards to help propel the computer storage industry forward."

"Today's demonstration is a major milestone in transforming the vision of heterogeneous SANs using both IP and Fibre Channel into a reality," said Frank Berry, vice president of corporate marketing, QLogic Corp. "Furthermore, it serves to ensure customers that their investments in Fibre Channel are safe for years to come."

"Qwest is pleased to be the IP network infrastructure provider to the highly successful Promontory Project," said James Becker, Qwest executive vice president, Worldwide and IP Networks. "IP Storage enables carriers to use existing staff to build and manage IP Storage networks. Qwest is particularly enthusiastic about this improvement in storage networks, as we believe strongly that strategic infrastructure investments should be made on the most proven, scalable, cost effective network solutions, namely those based on IP and Ethernet. It makes sense to use existing network technology to build the core of storage network meant for today -- and tomorrow."

Promontory Project Participants

Adaptec

Adaptec (Nasdaq:ADPT) provides intelligent, highly available storage access solutions that reliably move, manage, and protect critical data and digital content. Adaptec's storage solutions are found in high-performance networks, servers, workstations, and desktops from the world's leading manufacturers, and are sold through OEMs and distribution channels to ISPs, enterprises, medium and small businesses, and consumers. Adaptec is an S&P 600 SmallCap index member. More information is available at www.adaptec.com.

Dell

Dell Computer Corporation (Nasdaq:DELL) is the world's No. 1 computer systems company and is a premier provider of products and services required for customers to build their information-technology and Internet infrastructures. The company's revenue for the past four quarters totaled $32.6 billion. Dell ranks No. 48 on the Fortune 500, No. 122 on the Fortune Global 500, and No. 7 on the Fortune Global "most admired" lists of companies. Dell, through its direct business model, designs, manufactures, and customizes products and services to customer requirements, and offers an extensive selection of software and peripherals. Information on Dell and its products can be obtained on the World Wide Web at www.dell.com. Dell is a trademark of Dell Computer Corporation.

Hitachi Data Systems

Hitachi Data Systems is a leading supplier of storage hardware, software, solutions, and services. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT), Japan's largest electronics company, HDS is committed to providing the technological infrastructure for the world's most information-intensive corporations. The company is a leader in designing and installing Storage Area Networks (SANs) for large enterprises. These solutions incorporate the SAN-ready Freedom Storage(TM) systems: the highly scalable Freedom Storage Lightning 9900(TM) series, which includes all the functionality needed to assure 100-percent availability of mission-critical information, and the midrange Freedom Storage Thunder 9200(TM), which delivers the industry's highest performance in a compact package. For more information, please visit the company's Website at www.hds.com.

IBM

IBM is a world leader in storage systems, software, services, and technology. The recipient of the National Medal of Technology for its contributions to hard disk drive and storage technology, IBM led all companies once again with over 400 storage patents in 2000. IBM's open storage solutions are designed for the rigors of e-business collaboration utilizing next generation concepts for open storage by integrating modular technologies including disk, tape, and optical storage media, powerful processors, and rich software. For more information, visit www.ibm.com/totalstorage.

Nishan Systems

Nishan Systems, the world's first supplier of native IP Storage solutions, builds open storage networking products based on IP and Ethernet, the international networking standards. Nishan's Multiprotocol Storage framework supports iSCSI, iFCP, FCIP, iSNS, Fibre Channel, SCSI, and all types of Network-Attached Storage (NAS) interfaces. The highly reliable and manageable IP Storage fabric extends seamlessly from the data center to the metro area and beyond. Nishan's products are fully compatible with the millions of LAN, MAN, and WAN routers and switches already installed and mastered by IT professionals. Nishan Systems has been named to top company rankings in Computerworld, Red Herring Magazine, and the San Francisco Chronicle, and Nishan's IP Storage switches recently received the InfoWorld Readers' Choice Award for best new storage products. Nishan Systems, a full voting member of the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA), is based in San Jose, Calif., and can be reached at www.NishanSystems.com, and at 408/519-3700.

QLogic Corporation

QLogic Corporation (Nasdaq:QLGC) is changing the way the world views Storage Area Networks (SANs), serving OEMs, VARs, and system integrators with the only end-to-end SAN infrastructure in the industry. With over 15 years of enterprise storage experience, the company delivers a full range of Fibre Channel switches, PCI host bus adapters, controller silicon, and management chips for systems and peripherals, as well as the QLogic Management Suite of SAN management software solutions. A member of the S&P 500 Index, QLogic was ranked fourth on Forbes's Best 200 Small Companies and number 22 on Fortune's 100 Fastest Growing Companies. QLogic is integrated in over 200 OEM solutions, including: AMI, Compaq, Computer Associates, DataCore, Dell, EMC, FalconStor, Fujitsu, Hitachi, HP, IBM, INRANGE, Iwill, MTI Technology Corp., Quantum, Raidtec, Siemens, Sony, Sun, Unisys, VERITAS, and XIOtech. For more information about QLogic and its products, contact QLogic, 26600 Laguna Hills Drive, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656; telephone: [phone] (sales); 949/389-6000 (corporate); fax: [phone]; home page www.qlogic.com.

Qwest

Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE:Q) is a leader in reliable, scalable and secure broadband data, voice and image communications for businesses and consumers. The Qwest Macro Capacity(R) Fiber Network, designed with the newest optical networking equipment for speed and efficiency, spans more than 113,000 miles globally. For more information, please visit the Qwest Web site at www.qwest.com.

Note to Editors: Nishan Systems and the Nishan logo are trademarks of Nishan Systems, Inc. Other brand, company, product, or service names may be trademarks or service marks of others. Subject to change without notice.