Adaptec First to Provide Native Ultra160 SCSI Support for IA-64 Linux.

Business/High Tech Editors

MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 16, 2000

Adaptec and Red Hat Team to Deliver the Best in Storage Connectivity

for Next Generation 64-bit Linux Operating System 

Adaptec, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADPT) today announced that its Ultra160 SCSI technology is the first in the industry to be ported to the Linux IA-64 kernel -- the basis for the 64-bit version of the increasingly popular Linux open source operating system. By working closely with leading Linux provider Red Hat, Inc. (Nasdaq:RHAT), Adaptec brings a key technology to the Linux user community.

This initiative to bring Ultra160 SCSI to the world of IA-64 Linux aligns with Adaptec's position as the leading storage I/O enabler for platforms based on Intel's IA-64 microprocessor architecture.

Because these two industry leaders have worked together to bring this compelling solution to customers, users of IA-64 Linux from any of the major Linux vendors are assured of compatibility with Adaptec's Ultra160 SCSI products, the industry's Ultra160 SCSI leaders for performance, software value-add, and storage and peripheral connectivity.

"Adaptec is uniquely positioned to be a key player in two simultaneous computing revolutions: Linux and IA-64," said Lee Caswell, director of Adaptec's OEM Solutions Group. "The joint project between Adaptec and Red Hat has brought the world's foremost Linux engineers together to provide customers with hardware and software of unrivaled quality, and is important because of the increasing popularity of Linux, particularly in ISP and e-business environments."

Adaptec's Ultra160 technology has been accepted by the leading PC server and workstation manufacturers as the industry's foundation for this storage connectivity standard. At 160MB/s performance, Ultra160 SCSI technology boasts a data transfer rate double that of Ultra2 SCSI. Smooth "no risk" migration to this new SCSI technology is assured because users can continue to use legacy SCSI devices along with newer Ultra160 devices, with each device performing at its maximum speed. Extensively tested by Adaptec on over a dozen operating system versions and more than 160 systems, Adaptec's Ultra160 SCSI solutions are assured of the highest levels of compatibility and reliability.

"Adaptec Ultra160 SCSI and IA-64 Linux are two incredibly powerful technologies rightfully aimed at the challenges posed by very high-end computing," said Doug Ledford, Manager of Kernel Development at Red Hat. "By supporting Adaptec Ultra160 natively, users worldwide get seamless integration of Adaptec's industry-leading technology with the award-winning Linux operating system."

About Red Hat, Inc.

Founded in 1994, Red Hat (Nasdaq:RHAT) is the market leader in open-source operating system (OS) software, services and information. Along with its award-winning open-source Red Hat Linux OS, Red Hat offers a full line of services, including telephone support, on-site consulting, developer training, certification programs and priority access updates, making Red Hat a leading resource for knowledgeable, innovative, mission-critical open source solutions. Red Hat shares all of its software innovations freely with the open source community under the GNU General Public License (GPL) and other public licenses.

About Adaptec

Adaptec makes products and solutions that move, transfer, manage, and protect valuable data that is the heart of Internet and e-business computing. Adaptec's hardware and software products are found in high-performance servers and workstations from the world's leading manufacturers, and are sold through distribution channels to enterprises, medium and small businesses, and consumers. With a range of host I/O, RAID, and CD recording software products, Adaptec is a market leader in storage and digital content solutions, and a powerful enabler of today's information age. Adaptec is an S&P 500 and a NASDAQ 100 member. More information is available at http://www.adaptec.com.