Astute Networks ships powerful design kit to storage OEM customers.

Astute Networks, rapidly moving toward product launch, has begun shipping its breakthrough Software Development Kit (SDK) to storage OEM customers. The SDK allows Astute customers to write their own application code in concert with industry standard storage protocols, providing an easy and quick method to develop differentiating features. It is the only SDK in an emerging category of storage processors enabling storage OEMs to develop their own code.

The SDK enhances productivity in the software development cycle, encompassing design, development, debugging and performance analysis of the customer's system. Using Astute's C-based simulation model allows customers to efficiently and quickly simulate a significant number of test cases. The Astute simulator model can also be combined with C-based simulator models of other devices to develop a full-system simulation.

"We're excited about the customer enthusiasm for the SDK," said Allyn Pon, Astute's vice president of customer marketing. "Customers appreciate the advantages of the technology and have already implemented firmware for sophisticated storage applications within a very short time frame."

The initial shipments of Astute's SDK comes less than a month after the company announced an agreement with Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A) that includes licensing Astute's technology and a commitment to the company's silicon technology roadmap.

"The immediate demand for our SDK proves we are in sync with the SAN market's need for programmable silicon solutions that provide wire-speed performance and allow customers to tailor a model for their specific application," said Pon. "The SDK's availability marks another major milestone in our product introduction program."

Astute's comprehensive tool suite includes a cycle accurate C-based simulation model, storage protocol firmware and application programming interfaces (APIs). Coupled with high-level software tools such as the standard C GNU tools, the Astute SDK lets customers see accurate results of their custom applications in a real application environment. The production release of the SDK comes after several months of early deployment by Astute's customers.

Formed in April 2000, Astute Networks has raised more than $23 million in venture capital funding led by US Venture Partners (USVP) and BA Venture Partners. The company is currently in stealth mode creating an essential storage networking technology that will deliver silicon-based storage protocol acceleration with programmable intelligence. Astute's headquarters are based in San Diego, Calif.