Crossroads Delivers Library Resource Management for Sun Tape Libraries; Intelligent Platform Brings Business Information Assurance Inside Sun StorageTek L1400M Library Solutions.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Crossroads Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CRDS), a leading provider of business information assurance solutions for secure storage and data management, today announced the immediate availability of a library resource management solution with Sun Microsystems, Inc. Available as the Interface Control Module for the Sun StorageTek L1400M tape libraries, the intelligent platform extends the functionality of the L1400M library architecture with improved flexibility, utilization, and security for library resources.

"Escalating data management requirements for security and regulatory compliance combined with rising costs have created new challenges for IT organizations, and Sun is working closely with Crossroads for innovative storage solutions to solve these problems," said Martin Payne, Director of Small and Midrange Tape, Data Management Group, Sun Microsystems, Inc. "The Interface Control Module will provide our storage customers with advanced library resource management capabilities for their Sun StorageTek L1400M libraries."

"Crossroads' relationship with Sun expands upon the strong foundation we've built with StorageTek and today's announcement marks a strategic shift in the deployment of Crossroads technology as an integral component of the Sun StorageTek library solutions," said Rob Sims, president and chief executive officer, Crossroads Systems. "Crossroads' integrated solution for library resource management demonstrates the value of our suite of business information assurance solutions for ensuring the security, validity, and accessibility of data."

Enabled by Crossroads technology, the Interface Control Module supports powerful resource management capabilities such as Continuous Capacity, Library Partitioning, and Library Aggregation and provides a range of data management benefits including:

Increased Flexibility and Scalability

Continuous Capacity provides flexible resource licensing so that libraries can be scaled economically and non-disruptively, without downtime, even for dual library configurations. Not only can library capacity be increased without interrupting service, but library resources can also be seamlessly shared across UNIX, Linux and Windows environments as well as across multiple backup applications. Library Aggregation further increases flexibility by enabling dual library configurations to be presented as a single virtual library for improved consolidation and convenient management of resources.

Maximized Asset Utilization

With the advanced Library Partitioning feature, up to six logical partitions can be dynamically created, managed, and changed with no library downtime. Asset utilization increases since it's easy to reclaim unused capacity from partitions. Additionally, flexible drive assignment and the ability to share drives between partitions helps to maximize utilization while also minimizing costs.

Secure Access and Improved Reliability

Built-in access controls insert a secure firewall layer to shield library resources against unauthorized access, host conflicts and spurious network inquiries. Access controls permit the entire library (or selected tape drives and LUNs) to be hidden from specific hosts while remaining visible to others, enhancing the reliability and availability of resources for those hosts and applications which need them.

Ease-Of-Use with Web-Based Interface

A web-based management tool is included for ease-of-use and visibility to current status and configuration settings enabling library resources can be managed as an integrated system. No software agents are required because an embedded web server provides convenient access from any computer with a web browser.

Availability

The Interface Control Module is available for the Sun StorageTek L1400M tape libraries. For more information about Sun's tape backup and archival solutions, visit http://www.storagetek.com/products/tape_storage.html.

To ensure the security, validity, and accessibility of data, Crossroads offers a range of business information assurance solutions, including Crossroads' ServerAttach and DataMover appliances and its market-leading Storage Routers for multi-protocol storage networking. To learn more about products and solutions from Crossroads Systems, visit www.crossroads.com.

About Crossroads Systems, Inc.

With headquarters in Austin, Texas, Crossroads Systems (Nasdaq:CRDS) is a leading provider of business information assurance solutions for secure storage and data management. Crossroads' solutions serve the growing data storage, data management and information assurance markets, and are designed to help companies store, manage and ensure the security, validity and accessibility of their data. Crossroads' products are in solutions from companies such as EMC, HP, Quantum and Sun Microsystems, and are distributed through partners such as ACAL, Bell Micro, DLT Solutions, Info-X, and Promark. For more information about Crossroads Systems, please visit www.crossroads.com or call 800-643-7148.

Forward-Looking Statements 

This release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "will" and similar phrases as they relate to Crossroads are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements reflect the current views and assumptions of Crossroads, and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. Specific risks include product performance and quality issues, and market acceptance of our new and existing products. Other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are those detailed in Crossroads' filings with the Securities Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Crossroads expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to the information contained in this press release, or to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any changes in expectations, or any change in events or circumstances on which those statements are based, unless otherwise required by law.

Sun, Sun Microsystems and StorageTek are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.