Brocade Introduces Next-Generation Fabric Operating Environment for Storage Area Networks; New Software Release Delivers Industry-First Fabric Security, Enhanced Manageability, Ultra-High Availability, and Connectivity to FICON Environments.

Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. (Brocade(R)) , the world's leading provider of infrastructure solutions for Storage Area Networks (SANs), today announced OEM availability of the Brocade Fabric Operating Environment, an array of significant new features and capabilities for the Brocade Fabric Operating System (Fabric OS) and fabric management tools. With this software release, Brocade now offers the industry's first fabric-based SAN security, enhanced SAN-management tools, and new high-availability and connectivity features. Leading Brocade partners, including Dell, EMC Corporation, Hitachi Data Systems, HP, IBM, Network Appliance, StorageTek, and Sun Microsystems, will offer the Brocade Fabric Operating Environment to their customers worldwide.

"Lufthansa Systems selected Brocade as our storage networking partner because they understand the complexities of managing a heterogeneous, business-critical storage environment and deliver the advanced ultra high availability, security, and manageability capabilities that we require. We have been using the new Brocade Fabric Operating Environment in our labs and have been very impressed with the enhanced high availability features," said Bill Brest, Technical Manager, Lufthansa Systems Infratec, GmbH.

"In our mission-critical storage environment, high availability and security are critical. We are pleased to see Brocade expand the manageability and security of the storage environment through their new Fabric Operating Environment," said Mark Calkins, Senior Manager, Infrastructure Services, Valero Energy Corporation.

"SANs are becoming a critical IT infrastructure element for delivering improved security, manageability, and enhanced data availability," said John McArthur, Group Vice President, Worldwide Storage Research, IDC. "Brocade's announcement is in line with the importance that customers place on these capabilities for their mission-critical and business critical applications. IDC expects continued market demand for these types of enhancements."

Fabric-Based Security Designed for Storage Area Networks

Among the highlights of the new Fabric Operating Environment is the addition of Secure Fabric OS(R), now available for 2 Gigabit per second (Gbit/sec) SilkWorm(R) fabric switches. The industry's first fabric-based security for storage area networks, Secure Fabric OS combines the proven security features of IP networking with the unique security requirements of SANs. Secure Fabric OS is the only security product that offers centralized management of SAN security policies for management and device access, helping to ensure more predictable change management, assured configuration integrity, and reduced risk of downtime due to intentional intrusion or simple human error.

A Brocade SAN fabric with Secure Fabric OS assures that only authorized users can take management actions on the fabric, and that only authorized servers, storage or switches can be added to the fabric. Secure Fabric OS protects the network by using the strongest, enterprise-class security methods available, including digital certificates and digital signatures, multiple levels of password protection, encryption of management information such as passwords, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)-based authentication, and 1024-bit encryption of the switch's private key used for digital signatures. Secure Fabric OS conforms to a wide array of standards-based security mechanisms, including Secure Shell (SSH) and Fibre Channel Authentication Protocol (FCAP). Support for RADIUS and DH-CHAP is planned in a future release of the product.

"Security is very important to Usi. We applaud Brocade's initiative to provide additional security features in their products, complementing the LUN-level masking on the storage implementation and Brocade hardware port-level zoning that we already have in place," said Wes Garner, Principal Engineer, USi.

Enhanced SAN Management

With this software release, Brocade is delivering a wide range of management enhancements, including the ability for SilkWorm fabric switches to proactively discover Host Bus Adaptor (HBA) asset information without use of agents, deliver "single-keystroke" firmware download to Emulex HBAs through the fabric, and extend Brocade fabric security to the HBA. This industry-first capability, based on the Fabric Device Management Interface (FDMI) standard, simplifies SAN fabric administration by reducing the number of management touch points within the SAN.

Additionally, the user interface to WEBTOOLS, Brocade's web-based management tool, has been greatly enhanced and now offers new features such high availability management, congestion detection, and security metric reporting.

Brocade is also further expanding the development environment for Brocade SAN fabrics. Today, more than fifty Brocade partners access Brocade fabric services and features through the Brocade Fabric Access API. Brocade is expanding that development environment to include the industry's first API Scripting Developer's Kit, which will allow end user customers to customize SAN management scripts and create applications using the Brocade API, using industry standard scripting languages such as PERL. This enables end-users to integrate fabric management tasks into their existing operational scripts, bridging gaps in management automation offered by today's tools.

"The Brocade API scripting tools allow us to create our own SAN management applications and customize our SAN management solution to our environment," said Michelle Butler, Technical Program Manager, Storage Enabling Technologies, National Center for Supercomputer Applications (NCSA). "In addition, at NCSA data security is a key issue. The advanced security features we get from Brocade are extremely important, especially the ability to lock down ports and implement security authentication levels."

New High Availability and Connectivity Features

To improve application uptime and simplify change management, this software release includes expanded Reliability/Availability/Serviceability (RAS) features, such as the ability to download and activate new switch firmware with zero disruption to applications, enhanced diagnostics, and health monitoring. In addition, Secure Fabric OS enforces configuration integrity by preventing accidental device connection or configuration errors.

To extend connectivity options, the Fabric Operating Environment includes support for FICON with the SilkWorm 12000 Core Fabric Switch. Support for FICON will enable Brocade end-users to connect IBM mainframes to Brocade-based SAN environments. Brocade's FICON implementation also supports new capabilities such as FICON cascading, mainframe and open systems intermix mode, and 2 Gbit/sec speeds.

"We chose Brocade because of its industry leading availability and manageability. Our data has doubled in the last year and we don't see the growth slowing so we needed a flexible storage architecture that scales with us and interoperates with future advanced technologies," said Gary Pilafas, Senior Systems Analyst for United Loyalty Services. "With the release of this new Fabric Operating Environment, Brocade is arming us with the manageability tools we need to continue to scale our environment."

"This is the most comprehensive software release in Brocade's history," said Greg Reyes, Brocade Chairman and CEO during his keynote at Brocade Conference 2003. "We have boosted the intelligence of the Fabric Operating Environment to empower customers to protect their SAN from intruders, keep the system running when they are making upgrades, and enable proactive fabric management. Brocade is focused on delivering significant new capabilities that will boost operational efficiency today and serve as a platform for future competitive advantage."

About Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.

Brocade offers the industry's leading intelligent platform for networking storage. The world's leading systems, applications, and storage vendors have selected Brocade to provide a networking foundation for their SAN solutions. The Brocade SilkWorm(R) family of fabric switches and software is designed to optimize data availability and storage and server resources in the enterprise. Using Brocade solutions, companies can simplify the implementation of storage area networks, reduce the total cost of ownership of data storage environments, and improve network and application efficiency. For more information, visit the Brocade website at www.brocade.com or contact the company at [e-mail].

NOTE: Brocade, the B weave logo and SilkWorm are registered trademarks of Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States or in other countries. All other brands, products, or service names are or may be trademarks or service marks of, and are used to identify, products or services of their respective owners. All products, plans, and dates are subject to change without notice.

                          Industry Endorsements

  CIENA

"CIENA and Brocade have collaborated for several years to provide our customers with pre-tested, proven solutions to interconnect SANs over distance," said Dawn Hogh, Senior Vice President, Product Line Management at CIENA. "Together, we can deliver disaster recovery, business continuance, and remote back-up planning solutions. CIENA will continue to work closely with Brocade in support of these essential technologies as customer requirements for distance solutions evolve." For more information, please visit the CIENA booth (#401).

Clipper Group

"The enhancement of Brocade's Fabric Operating Environment to include FICON support is good for the industry," said Mike Fisch, Analyst, Clipper Group. "Today's software announcement provides customers with further choice and flexibility as more and more storage moves to a network model."

CreekPath Systems

"This is an important announcement of new features and enhancements to the Brocade Fabric Operating Environment, fabric management tools and Brocade Fabric Access APIs. It allows CreekPath Systems seamless integration to offer our joint customers increased levels of security and stability to maximize efficiency in their network storage environments," said Scott J. Hansbury, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development, CreekPath Systems.

Data Mobility Group

"Today's software announcement of the extension of the Brocade Fabric Operating Environment, which includes the FDMI standard jointly developed by Brocade and Emulex, delivers open methods used in discovering, sharing, and reporting the necessary information to facilitate single console, proactive management of networked storage resources," said John Webster, Senior Analyst and Founder, Data Mobility Group. "This co-development effort has extended management and security intelligence embedded within the core of the fabric outward to SAN infrastructure components such as HBAs."

Emulex Corporation

"Brocade's expansions to its Fabric OS provide customers with a secure, extensible and highly available solution," said Mike Smith, Executive Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, Emulex Corporation. "The Brocade fabric OS, which incorporates support for Emulex's HBAnyware management suite, enables customers to improve serviceability and manageability of their storage networking environment."

Enterprise Management Associates

"Many customers are looking for more flexibility in their management tools in order to develop customized solutions tailored to their specific application environments," said Mike Karp, Senior Analyst, Enterprise Management Associates. "Tools such as the new API Scripting Developer's Kit offer the potential for rapid introduction of new and simplified applications while preserving the investment made in existing scripts and facilitating their reuse. Additionally, the export of these end user scripts via an API ensures that other applications can take advantage of specific, customized tasks and procedures without incurring the cost of large scale development."

Hitachi Data Systems

"Hitachi Data Systems will be pleased to offer the new Brocade Fabric Operating Environment with its enhanced manageability and security features," said Scott Genereux, Vice President, Global Marketing, Business Development, Hitachi Data Systems. "Customers are demanding these features and we continue to work closely with Brocade in standards committees as well as in joint product testing to ensure a high level of functionality. As a result, the combination of our Hitachi Freedom Storage systems and Brocade SAN infrastructure provides an ideal environment for all storage customers from entry level to the largest enterprise."

HP Network Storage Solutions

"As SANs grow in size and complexity, centralized and simplified fabric and storage management becomes a more critical concern for customers," said Bob Schultz, Vice President of Marketing, HP Network Storage Solutions. "Working with key partners like Brocade enables HP to provide customers with adaptive infrastructures for storage that deliver increasing business agility and value. Storage management software is a critical component of this capability, and we expect that Brocade's advancements to the Fabric Operating Environment -- including authentication, encryption and policy-based management -- will translate into benefits for HP StorageWorks SAN customers."

HP Network Storage Services

"HP is committed to providing a comprehensive security solution for customers' SANs," said Gary Wright, VP of HP Network Storage Services. "As the world's leading SAN solutions provider, HP is teaming with Brocade to provide integrated product and service solutions that enable customers to immediately realize the cost and performance benefits of a secure, flexible and stable SAN. HP helps customers with SAN security parameters, policies and change management procedures that immediately improve the safety of organizations' critical business data."

InterSAN

"InterSAN's partnership with Brocade underscores our common vision to provide customers with the most comprehensive storage management solutions," said Karen Dutch, Vice President of Marketing, InterSAN. "Brocade continues to raise the bar in innovation through its next generation operating system. With the combination of Brocade's intelligent fabric capabilities and InterSAN's leading storage area management automation software, our mutual customers will be able to better manage growth and deliver quality services in an affordable, manageable, and secure environment."

META Group

"Lines-of-businesses are putting increased pressure and demand on information technology organizations to ensure that IT infrastructure deployments have the right levels of security, manageability, and data availability, to support their business objectives," said Carl Greiner, Senior Vice President, META Group. "Security, simplifying management, and business continuity remain top priorities for CIOs."

Network Appliance

"Brocade continues to be a vital partner for us as we expand our SAN solutions portfolio," said Rich Clifton, Vice President of SAN/iSAN Business Unit at Network Appliance. "The new Fabric Operating Environment enables us to deliver SAN capabilities as part of our unified storage solutions that are highly manageable, extensible, and secure, allowing customers to continue to reduce operating expenses by increasing the efficiency of their storage networks."

Nortel Networks

"We greatly value our relationship with Brocade in that it yields tangible benefits to our customers who want to implement resilient disaster recovery and business continuance solutions over the metro and extended distances," said Marco Pagani, President, Optical Ethernet and Storage Solutions, Nortel Networks. "Our combined storage solution addresses customers' current and evolving needs for SAN connectivity."

StorageTek

"We are pleased to add the new Fabric Operating Environment, with its leading-edge security functionality, to our extensive line of SAN offerings available to our customers worldwide," said Pierre Cousin, Vice President and General Manager, Storage Networking, StorageTek. "StorageTek remains dedicated to working with industry-leading partners such as Brocade to ensure our customers have the broadest degree of product offerings when it comes to deploying a strategic SAN solution."

Sun Microsystems

"We are pleased to continue to grow our partnership with Brocade, as we both remain committed to providing our customers with best in class solutions based on open standards," said James Staten, director of Marketing for Storage Software and Data Continuance, Sun Microsystems, Inc. "Brocade's additional features and functionality will offer our mutual customers greater manageability and security in their storage fabrics."

CONTACT: Media Relations, Fenella Tigner, [phone], or [e-mail], or Investor Relations, Shirley Stacy, [phone], or [e-mail], both of Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.; or Jodi Olson of Text 100 Public Relations, [phone], or [e-mail], for Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.

Web site: http://www.brocade.com/