Cambex adds low-cost disk array to its RS 6000 storage product line.

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 26, 1995--Cambex Corporation today announced two new low-cost disk array products and further extended its disk array upgrade guarantee for IBM RISC System/6000 and SP2 users.

The new ARRAY/6000 Model 505 subsystems include two "personal" disk array units with capacities of five and 10.5 gigabytes in a single deskside cabinet, priced starting at $22,950. Each unit includes a single deskside enclosure, one RAID controller, one rank of five disk drives with capacities of either 1GB or 2.1GB each, three power supplies, a Cambex Wide Differential SCSI-2 adapter, an I/O cable and an integrated AIX configuration utility. Both of the new subsystems can be doubled in both capacity and RAID protection attributes.

Both products are covered by Cambex's seamless upgrade path, which enables RS/6000 users to move quickly into disk array technology and then add or adapt their mix of disk array products to meet changing operating requirements, with no risk of equipment obsolescence. The plan guarantees a user that any current ARRAY/6000 product -- including the new Model 505 units -- can be upgraded, at the user site, through the entire 10.5-to-189 gigabyte capacity range, as well as a range of other features, of the ARRAY/6000 Series disk array product line.

"The message we are sending is clear. With Cambex disk arrays, you never discard a functional component; it is protected from obsolescence for the serviceable life of the unit," Louis J. Finnegan, Cambex marketing vice president, explained.

Many Upgrade Options Available

Among the expansion options offered by Cambex are the addition of RAID and power redundancy, storage, HACMP/6000 clustering, extended-length cabling and operating environment enhancements, such as an AIX configuration utility that operates in a SMIT window, Finnegan said.

All ARRAY/6000 Series storage products can combine or intermix different levels of data protection within a single subsystem. Thus, a user can run, concurrently on a single disk array configuration, one or several data protection schemes such as RAID-O, RAID-1, RAID-3 or RAID-5.

"At a time when radical makeover of information systems is prevalent, Cambex hopes to reduce the risk of storage obsolescence by offering a family of products that meet users needs and budgets. Such a program makes it easier for cost-constrained users to move from application development to production with the most functional and strategic disk array technologies," Finnegan said.

Two New Models

The new ARRAY/6000 units include the Models 505-1005 and 505-2105. The Model 505-1005 makes use of one-gigabyte 3-1/2-inch disk drives, and the Model 505-2105 uses 2.1 gigabyte 3-1/2-inch drives. Each has a single SCSI-2 high-speed disk adapter capable of data transfer at rates of up to 20 megabytes per second, which can be shared by two host RS/6000 computer systems in an HACMP/6000 environment, with the addition of a second RAID controller. Both models are field upgradeable to Cambex's larger ARRAY/510 and ARRAY/910 systems, and both come with free installation and a one-year on-site service warranty.

Initial deliveries of both Model 505 units begin this month, with shipment quoted as 30 days ARO. The units come with a variety of service programs ranging from a "hot swap" program to 7X24 on-site maintenance, depending upon user preference.

U.S. list pricing is $22,950 for a basic 505-1005 and $26,950 for a basic 505-2105 disk array subsystem. Service is provided by Cambex, IBM or other authorized third parties.

Cambex Corp. (Nasdaq: CBEX) of Waltham, Mass. provides a variety of direct access storage products that improves the performance of large and midsize IBM computers used as enterprise servers by organizations throughout the world. These products include central and expanded memory, controller cache memory, disk array systems, disk and tape subsystems, and related software products used with IBM System/3090, ES/9000, RS/6000 and SP2 computer systems. Cambex provides value to users through a combination of product function, capacity, pricing, consultative and support benefits.

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CONTACT: Cambex

Rose M. Curran, 617/890-6000 x328