Compaq Delivers on the Promise of Its Enterprise Network Storage Architecture.

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 25, 1999--

Announces New Fibre Channel Storage Solutions, IBM Connectivity

Solutions, and Industry-Standard Data Storage Products

As part of its strategy to reduce the complexity of enterprise computing, Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE:CPQ) today announced breakthrough StorageWorks offerings building on its industry-leading Enterprise Network Storage Architecture (ENSA) designed to make computer storage a more flexible, shared resource throughout the enterprise. Based on a comprehensive set of industry-standard technologies, the new products achieve breakthroughs in performance, scalability, and disaster tolerance capabilities.

Compaq also introduced solutions for IBM mainframe connectivity, extending its ability to provide storage solutions for heterogeneous computing, and a number of data storage products based on industry standards and new technologies.

"Today's announcement is the next generation of solutions based on Compaq's industry-leading vision for storage - ENSA - which makes storage as easy to use as a utility such as telephone or electric service," said Howard Elias, Vice President and General Manager of the Storage Products Division at Compaq Computer Corporation. "Compaq offers customers real value with open, high-performance, high-availability storage solutions they can manage centrally and access from anywhere in their enterprises."

David Hill, storage analyst at Aberdeen Group, said, "Compaq is taking concrete steps by delivering solutions that are part of its Enterprise Network Storage Architecture vision. The new solutions provide customers what they need to realize the true benefits storage area networks can offer."

Breakthrough Fibre Channel Storage Solutions

Designed for demanding commercial enterprise applications, the new Compaq StorageWorks Enterprise Storage Array 12000 and RAID Array 8000 systems are based on a common architecture and offer customers centralized management, high availability, and exceptional performance and scalability in open systems environments.

The systems support Compaq's Secure Path value-added, high-availability architecture for storage systems and Selective Storage Presentation for multi-host connectivity. They also support data cloning to reduce backup windows and next quarter they will also support Compaq's next-generation, value-added Peer-to-Peer Remote Copy software for disaster tolerance. The systems extend Compaq's Fibre Channel offerings with support for both Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL), an excellent entry-level, enterprise-class architecture that offers high-availability, scalability, and multi-host support; and Fibre Channel switched fabrics, a high-end solution that extends the architecture with increased performance, enhanced reliability, and remote-site connectivity.

The Enterprise Storage Array 12000, designed for the data center, is available in three easy-to-order building blocks, each optimized for specific, high-capacity customer requirements. These include a high-I/O configuration for mail and messaging, e-commerce, and business intelligence applications; a high-bandwidth configuration for video streaming, expert systems, and Geo mapping applications; and a configuration that offers a balance of high I/O and high bandwidth for general business applications. The Enterprise Storage Array 12000 offers unprecedented levels of storage, scaling in performance and capacity as user requirements increase.

A mid-range storage system, the StorageWorks RAID Array 8000 is available in a pedestal enclosure for departmental use in the office. It can also be installed in server racks for small data centers. An easy-to-deploy, flexible solution for open systems, the RAID Array 8000 supports up to 1.3 TB of storage.

SunGard Recovery Services of Wayne, PA, a leading provider of comprehensive disaster recovery and business continuity services, depends on the latest storage technology from Compaq. "Our business requires considerable amounts of highly flexible storage to provide backup services to customers at one of our sites or at some other site designated by the customer," said Bob Cornelius, product manager at SunGuard. "By supporting the latest SAN technologies, the new Compaq StorageWorks solutions allow SunGuard to provide superior backup and recovery services to our customers in mixed-vendor environments."

"Compaq's new products take advantage of the latest Fibre Channel technology as it matures," said Carl Wolfston, director of Headlands Associates, an enterprise storage VAR in Pleasanton, California. "These new products allow our customers' IS departments to centrally manage and protect valuable information in a SAN environment."

Available for as low as $.13/MB, an entry-level StorageWorks RAID Array 8000 with 400 GB of storage has an estimated street price of $68,000 and can scale to a 1.3 TB configuration for approximately $169,000. A StorageWorks Enterprise Storage Array 12000, which offers unprecedented scalablility, is available for as low as $.15/MB. "The new StorageWorks systems offer customers the lowest total solutions cost in the industry," said Ray Villareal, Vice President of North America Enterprise Computing at Compaq. "With Compaq's StorageWorks Command Console software and Compaq Services, the solutions are among the industry's lowest in total cost of ownership."

The systems support the NetWare, Windows NT, Digital UNIX, Sun Solaris, HP-UX, IBM AIX, SGI IRIX, SCO UNIX and OpenVMS operating systems. Compaq's large installed base of StorageWorks RAID Array 7000 and Enterprise Storage Array 10000 customers can upgrade their systems to take advantage of ENSA while protecting their storage investment.

IBM to Open Systems Connectivity

Many enterprises need to exchange data rapidly between mainframe and open client/server systems for applications such as data mining. To facilitate this, Compaq today announced agreements with two leading partners specializing in IBM connectivity: Computer Network Technology (CNT) and Bus-Tech. Key features of the solutions include high-speed transfers from IBM MVS mainframe systems, data and file sharing from IBM DB-2-based systems, and backup and restore from open systems to corporate mainframe systems.

CNT's solution includes proven FileSpeed data movement software, UltraNet storage gateway hardware, and consulting, integration, and on-going support. Bus-Tech's solution includes the award-winning, high-performance, and cost-effective DataBlaster technology, with support for industry-leading management applications and services. The combination of Compaq StorageWorks and solutions from CNT and/or Bus-Tech provides complete IBM connectivity for Compaq's enterprise customers.

New Data Storage Solutions

Today Compaq also announced new data storage products to ensure maximum interoperability, integration, and investment protection. These affordable products offer increased performance, density, and capacity, and include:

--New 4 GB and 9 GB Ultra2 SCSI drives in hot-plug versions and 4 GB, 9 GB, and 18 GB drives in non-plug versions are available for Compaq ProLiant servers and offer speeds of 7,200 or 10,000 rotations per minute (rpm). The 10,000 rpm drives offer a 40 percent increase in performance over 7,200 rpm drives. A new drive carrier design is available for select ProLiant servers that increases storage density and improves drive cooling and reliability.

--The TL895 DLT automated tape library offers direct backup of Compaq ProLiant and Alpha server platforms for the enterprise. It provides up to 6.7 TB of storage capacity and can house up to 7 DLT drives and 96 cartridges for more than six times the capacity and three-and-a-half times the performance of previous solutions. Estimated street prices range from $52,000 to $75,000.

--A new Ultra2 SCSI expander, enabling customers to move existing tapes from inside a server to an external device.

--A new Ultra2 SCSI adapter for use with either tapes or disks for Compaq ProLiant servers.

--A new, entry-level Ultra2 Smart Array 221 controller, a robust alternative to software RAID for entry-level Compaq ProLiant servers.

Storage Services

Compaq delivers enterprise-wide system and service offerings so customers can plan, design, implement, manage, and support their server, network, and storage solutions throughout the IT life cycle. Together, Compaq Services (recognized for best-in-class service), the Storage Products Division, and industry channel partners deliver storage services worldwide ranging from traditional customer availability services to professional consulting and systems integration to the complete outsourcing of a customer's data center for heterogeneous computing environments.

Compaq Storage

Compaq is the leading provider of open and industry-standard storage in the industry according to International Data Corporation's report, "Year in Review, 1998: Disk Storage Systems." Compaq offers leadership industry-standard storage solutions for servers, multi-vendor environments, and business-critical computing. Today's new products, partnerships, and solutions demonstrate the strengths of the Compaq StorageWorks brand name, widely recognized for supporting the most demanding business applications.

Company Background

Founded in 1982, Compaq Computer Corporation is a Fortune Global 100 company. Compaq is the second largest computer company in the world and the largest global supplier of personal computers. Compaq develops and markets hardware, software, solutions, and services, including industry-leading enterprise computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, networking and communication products, commercial desktop and portable products and consumer PCs. The company is an industry leader in environmentally friendly programs and business practices.

Compaq products are sold and supported in more than 100 countries through a network of authorized Compaq marketing partners. Customer support and information about Compaq and its products are on the World Wide Web at http://www.compaq.com and are available by calling 1-800-OK-COMPAQ. Product information and reseller locations are available by calling 1-800-345-1518.

Compaq, Registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.