Adaptec's New Multichannel PCI Boards Double I/O Performance of Server and Multimedia Applications; UltraSCSI and Multichannel I/O Offer Superior Performance and PCI Expansion Options.MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 2, 1996--Adaptec, Inc., announced two new PCI-UltraSCSI multichannel Using two or more paths for transmission or processing. It can refer to a variety of architectures including (1) multiple I/O channels between the CPU and peripheral devices, (2) multiple wires in a cable, (3) multiple "logical" channels within a single wire or fiber or (4) multiple host adapters today, the AHA-3940U and AHA-3940UW, designed to meet the needs of today's bigger and faster PC/LAN server and multimedia production applications. With the two new Adaptec AIC-7880 PhaseEngine RISC processors on board powering two independent UltraSCSI channels, the AHA-3940U achieves a maximum per channel data transfer rate of 20 MB/sec. and supports up to 14 SCSI SCSI in full Small Computer System Interface Once common standard for connecting peripheral devices (disks, modems, printers, etc.) to small and medium-sized computers. SCSI has given way to faster standards, such as Firewire and USB. devices. The AHA-3940UW transfers data at up to 40 MB/sec. per channel and supports up to 30 SCSI devices. New features for the AHA-3940U family include Flash BIOS A PC BIOS stored in a flash memory chip rather than a ROM chip. Years ago, the flash BIOS replaced the ROM BIOS to allow for updating in place. Updating a ROM BIOS meant removing the chip and replacing it with a newer version. See BIOS and flash memory. for easier software driver upgrades, new enabling software including the Adaptec 7800 Manager Set (v.1.3) and Adaptec EZ-SCSI 4.0 software, for operating systems support and simple management of SCSI peripherals. The AHA-3940U/UW kits also include Adaptec CI/O software v 1.03, for remote monitoring of SCSI device performance. "For PC/LAN servers that require the fastest throughput and the highest degree of expandability, multichannel I/O (Input/Output) The transfer of data between the CPU and a peripheral device. Every transfer is an output from one device and an input to another. See PC input/output. I/O - Input/Output is the only choice," said ECX ECX European Climate Exchange ECX E-Commerce Exchange ECX eCatalog XML ECX Extended Count Register ECX Electronically Controlled Telephone Exchange ECX Extrusion-Cast Explosive (fine-grain) ECX Experimental Concentration - Percent vice president and general manager Drew Hoffman. "For systems designers, VARs and motherboard manufacturers, this technology effectively builds a wealth of device connection options into today's high-end servers without sacrificing performance." Accelerating throughput with multichannel I/O Server and network data traffic demands are driving the need for faster I/O options to reduce bottlenecks. Multichannel I/O has a distinct advantage by adding a second "lane" for transferring data between peripherals and the CPU CPU in full central processing unit Principal component of a digital computer, composed of a control unit, an instruction-decoding unit, and an arithmetic-logic unit. . High-end PC/LAN servers typically operate with a large number of peripheral devices attached. The additional lane improves overall peripheral performance by isolating slower peripherals on the second I/O channel. Applications well-suited to multichannel I/O include online transaction processing See transaction processing and OLCP. and database management, web server traffic processing, multimedia and video production. UltraSCSI: Performance and Compatibility UltraSCSI gives the AHA-3940U family the highest levels of SCSI performance possible. UltraSCSI technology will improve PC/LAN server I/O when used in a number of key application areas, including multiple drive arrays and multitasking multitasking Mode of computer operation in which the computer works on multiple tasks at the same time. A task is a computer program (or part of a program) that can be run as a separate entity. operating systems. It will also improve performance of applications that require a high number of sequential disk accesses and commands, as well as large data transfers. UltraSCSI is completely backward compatible. Users can mix and match any variety of SCSI-1, SCSI-2 and SCSI-3 devices. The adapters implement the Adaptec UltraSCSI specification, which meets or exceeds the SCSI-3 Fast-20 draft specification, as proposed by the American National Standard (standard) American National Standard - (ANS) A common prefix for ANSI documents or standards, e.g.: "ANS Forth", or "American National Standard X3.215-1994". for Information Systems (ANSI (American National Standards Institute, New York, www.ansi.org) A membership organization founded in 1918 that coordinates the development of U.S. voluntary national standards in both the private and public sectors. It is the U.S. member body to ISO and IEC. ). This implementation doubles the I/O transfer rate of SCSI-2 from 10 to 20 MB/sec. per channel for an eight-bit (narrow) SCSI bus, and from 20 to 40 MB/sec. per channel for a 16-bit (wide) bus. The AHA-3940U/UW kits contain the following: --AHA-3940U or 3940UW PCI-Ultra SCSI multichannel host adapter --Adaptec EZ-SCSI 4.0 software --Adaptec 7800 Manager Set software (Version 1.3) --Adaptec CI/O Single Server Management software (Version 1.03) --User documentation and two internal SCSI cables Pricing and Availability The AHA-3940U kits will carry a suggested retail price of $499; the AHA-3940UW, $599. Both kits are scheduled for volume distribution in May 1996. Adaptec Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on :ADPT ADPT Automated Data Processing/Telecommunications ADPT Adaptec Corporation (stock symbol) ADPT Adaptive Prediction ADPT Auger Depth Profiling Technique ADPT Automated Data Processing Telecommunications ADPT Adapter ) designs, manufactures and markets IOware solutions to eliminate performance bottlenecks between microcomputers, networks, and peripherals. Solutions range from simple connectivity products for single-user and small- office desktops, to intelligent subsystem, high-performance SCSI, RAID and ATM products for enterprise-wide computing and networked environments. Adaptec I/O solutions are incorporated into the products of virtually all the major computer and peripheral manufacturers around the world. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Milpitas, Calif., Adaptec is a recognized market leader in high-performance I/O technology. Adaptec currently employs approximately 2,000 people, and with its global distribution network, serves customers worldwide. Adaptec's World Wide Web home page address is http://www.adaptec.com. CONTACT: Adaptec Adam B. Trunkey, 408/957-6761 atrunkey@corp.adaptec.com |
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