Cambex introduces storage optimization software tool; DASH Optimizer can improve application performance up to 50 percent.

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 4, 1995--Cambex Corp. (NASDAQ:CBEX) today announced a storage optimization software tool for IBM MVS/ESA customers.

The Direct Access Storage Hierarchy (DASH) Optimizer, jointly developed by Cambex and Demand Technology Inc. of Naples, Fla., provides significant user benefit when used with Cambex's Cascade Array DASD product family. Cascade DASD is a RAID 1 disk array that attaches to the IBM 3990 Control Unit, providing ESCON and other extended function capabilities.

"For the first time, MVS users can evaluate all four storage components of the I/O bottleneck that a critical application, such as DB 2, CICS, IMS or VSAM, will encounter in a mainframe environment," according to Mark Friedman, a principal of Demand Technology. "The tool was designed to complement IBM's Data in Memory (DIM) strategy which recommends that Central and Expanded processor storage be optimized for minimal I/O activity," Friedman said.

Up to now, if the I/O subsystem did not have adequate performance, the only option a user had was to add cache memory to the DASD controller. With the use of the DASH Optimizer, certain applications may achieve better performance levels with the addition of one gigabyte of Central and Expanded processor storage, instead of two gigabytes or more of controller cache. The DASH Optimizer's purpose is to help the user to monitor its storage usage and Cambex Systems Engineers to optimize the total storage hierarchy by properly determining at which level to add storage and make application adjustments such as buffer pool sizes.

"Our development partnership with Demand Technology reflects the investment that Cambex has made in products and tools which provide cost-effective storage solutions to our customers," said Louis J. Finnegan, vice president of marketing at Cambex. "Since additional Central and Expanded storage can `recapture' processor MIPS, our customers can recover the cost of additional Cascade DASD by postponing their CPU upgrade by as little as six months," Finnegan said.

Cambex is the only independent supplier of all four levels of IBM 3090 and ES/9000 mainframe storage: Central and Expanded processor storage, 3990 controller cache and DASD-resident cache. "With the DASH Optimizer, our technical staff can pro-actively and effectively analyze which storage component should be changed to obtain optimal cost/performance," Finnegan added.

Initially, the DASH Optimizer will be used in pre-installation analysis and post-installation performance tuning by Cambex Systems Engineers. In 1996, it will be made available to customers to provide ongoing monitoring and analysis capabilities for the changing requirements of the mainframe storage hierarchy.

Cambex is presenting the DASH Optimizer for customers who are attending the Computer Measurement Group (CMG) annual conference in Nashville, Tenn., whose focus is to provide mainframe users with performance monitoring and capacity planning tools and expertise. Representatives from Cambex and Demand Technology will be involved in a special vendor presentation session on Thursday, Dec. 7 to explain the benefits of both Cascade Array DASD and Dash Optimizer.

Cambex Corp. (NASDAQ:CBEX) headquartered in Waltham, Mass., has designed, manufactured and serviced a variety of direct access storage products for IBM's largest mainframe computers for over 25 years. The company is the largest independent supplier of processor memory for 3090 and ES/9000 CPU's, cache memory for the IBM 3990 Model 3 and Model 6 storage control units and Centurion RAID disk arrays for Open Systems commercial servers.

CONTACT: Cambex Corp.

Lou Finnegan, 617/890-6000 ext. 213