Crossroads Launches Industry's First Modular Multiprotocol Storage Router -- the Crossroads 10000.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2002

Networked Storage Manager Supports Fibre Channel, iSCSI

and InfiniBand Networks

Crossroads Systems(R) Inc. (Nasdaq:CRDS), a global provider of connectivity for storage networking solutions, today introduced the Crossroads(R) 10000(tm), its modular storage router that performs all the key protocol and storage management functions between storage devices and the network.

The 10000 is the only multiprotocol storage router to offer connectivity and management of SCSI and Fibre Channel storage devices into Fibre Channel, iSCSI and InfiniBand storage networks.

"Crossroads is committed to developing industry leading, multiprotocol storage routing manageability and connectivity," said Larry Sanders, president and CEO, Crossroads Systems. "With the delivery of the 10000, Crossroads is providing customers a platform that is easy to manage, scalable, cost-efficient and most importantly, protects their existing and future investments in storage networking technologies."

Modular Design Delivers Best-in-class Manageability, Connectivity

and Performance

The Crossroads 10000 enables individual storage devices to be managed as an integrated system rather then as a collection of stand-alone devices. Based on the Crossroads routing architecture and Crossroads Router OS, the 10000 is highly modular and easily supports a wide range of storage protocols. This enables tape library and disk subsystem OEMs to deliver networked storage solutions that are easy-to-manage, highly scaleable, and adaptable to their customer's changing backup requirements.

High Reliability and Availability

The Crossroads 10000 is capable of virtually no unscheduled downtime due to its dual power supplies, dual fans and dual Fibre Channel ports. This enables the 10000 to continue operating despite a major component failure, or a Fibre Channel network failure. In its unique modular design, new field replaceable hot-swappable power supplies and fans eliminate downtime to replace components and allow I/O modules to be inserted or replaced without having to remove the router. The 10000 equips any tape library with the proactive error recovery and health check tools needed to ensure data integrity and reliable backup. This level of intelligent management increases the uptime of tape libraries.

Low Support Costs

The Crossroads 10000 storage router offers easier installation, configuration and management due to its embedded Web server and Crossroads Visual Manager(tm) (CVM)(tm) software. Only CVM offers the ability to remotely configure and manage tape libraries through a standard Web browser. Crossroads patented LUN zoning technology enables users to assign library resources remotely and prevents unauthorized access to library data. These management and security features reduce service and support costs.

Higher Performance Reduces the Solution Cost

The 10000 features up to 12 SCSI ports, and two 2Gb Fibre Channel ports in a space efficient 1U form factor. Customers benefit not only from increased space availability, but also from a solution that requires fewer storage routers, reducing the cost per port and the router cost per tape library.

With up to 12 SCSI ports, and end-to-end throughput in excess of 300 MB/s, the 10000 performs faster tape reads and writes allowing customers to restore existing data in considerably less time, or back-up increasingly larger data sets within the current backup window.

Industry Leading Interoperability

The Crossroads 10000 undergoes extensive testing in many SAN configurations. Because the 10000 is based on a common hardware and software architecture that was introduced in the Crossroads 8000 storage router, storage OEMs will be able to leverage qualification testing done with the 8000 to reduce time to market for the Crossroads 10000 and for future routers. Leading ISVs and IHVs, including VERITAS Software, Legato Systems, Computer Associates, BMC Software, EMC, QLogic, and Gadzoox have certified the Crossroads 8000, which will also speed their certification of the 10000.

Crossroads 10000 Availability

Fibre Channel and SCSI configurations will be available to OEM customers in March 2002 at which time a major go-to-market OEM will launch its product. Embedded versions of the Crossroads 10000 are available to OEMs to enable them to offer Fibre Channel connectivity to their storage systems.

The 10000 will be made available to the distribution channel in April 2002.

iSCSI configurations will be available in the second half of 2002, and InfiniBand configuration availability will be determined based on market demand.

For more information please visit www.crossroads.com or call 800/643-7148.

About Crossroads Systems Inc.

With headquarters in Austin, Texas, Crossroads Systems (Nasdaq:CRDS) is a leading global provider of connectivity for storage networks regardless of technology or location. Crossroads enables protocol-independent connectivity at gigabit speeds for a wide range of devices that scale for small businesses to global enterprises. Crossroads' products are in solutions from ADIC, ATL, Compaq, Dell, Fujitsu Siemens, Groupe Bull, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi Data Systems, IBM, McDATA, StorageTek, Sun Microsystems, Unisys, ACAL, Bell Micro, Cranel/Adexis, Datalink and Tech Data. Crossroads is a voting member of the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA). For more information about Crossroads Systems, please visit www.crossroads.com or call 800/643-7148.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are: the quarterly fluctuations of Crossroads' operating results and Crossroads' inability to accurately predict revenues and budget for expenses for future periods; the extent of Crossroads' future operating losses and negative cash flow; the company's ability to maintain its operating margins; the deteriorating economic environment, including in particular related expense reductions by organizations affecting their IT spending and budget; the dependence of Crossroads' business on the storage area network market which is evolving and unpredictable; the possibility that the pending shareholder class action lawsuits could result in an adverse outcome to the company; Crossroads' ability to develop new and enhanced products that achieve market acceptance; the effect of competition; the effect of undetected software or hardware errors, which may affect the company's results or reduce demand for Crossroads' products in the long term; Crossroads' inability to protect its intellectual property rights, including any adverse outcome in the company's pending patent litigation with certain of its competitors; the continuation of Crossroads' successful relationships with its limited number of OEM customers, including its ability to replace revenue from ADIC and Compaq Computer Corporation and/or to realize the benefit of the new agreement with Compaq; Crossroads' ability to retain and recruit key personnel to manage its business successfully; Crossroads' ability to successfully achieve the benefits of the acquisition of Polaris Communications and any subsequent acquisition or strategic relationship; and that Crossroads' stock price could be volatile regardless of Crossroads' actual financial performance and other factors detailed in Crossroads' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on 10-Q.

Copyright(c)2002 Crossroads Systems Inc. Crossroads and Crossroads Systems are registered trademarks of Crossroads Systems Inc. The Crossroads Systems logo is a trademark of Crossroads Systems Inc. Other product names and/or slogans mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.