DPT ships SmartCache IV: industry's first RAID and caching upgradable half-size SCSI host adapters.MAITLAND, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 27, 1996--Distributed Processing Technology (DPT), a pioneer and leading supplier of high-performance SCSI SCSI in full Small Computer System Interface Once common standard for connecting peripheral devices (disks, modems, printers, etc.) to small and medium-sized computers. SCSI has given way to faster standards, such as Firewire and USB. and Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) solutions, Tuesday announced the company is now shipping its revolutionary line of SmartCache IV SCSI host adapters. "DPT made a strategic decision to incorporate new technologies into the SmartCache IV product line prior to shipping," said John (Johnny) Cardosi, vice president of distribution sales and marketing for DPT. "With these new enhancements, DPT now offers entry-level and mid-range server markets a hardware-based RAID solution priced to compete with software-based RAID." Features and Benefits SmartCache IV, the next generation of DPT's award-winning SmartCache family of SCSI host adapters, combines the latest advancements in intelligent input/output (architecture) Intelligent Input/Output - /i:-too-oh/ (I2O) A specification which aims to provide an I/O device driver architecture that is independent of both the specific device being controlled and the host operating system. (I/O (Input/Output) The transfer of data between the CPU and a peripheral device. Every transfer is an output from one device and an input to another. See PC input/output. I/O - Input/Output ) technology with significant breakthroughs in design, performance and ease-of-use. The SCSI host adapters offer an array of features to meet the growing I/O demands of multi-user, multi-tasking, and networked environments, as well as I/O- intensive desktop applications such as color pre-press and multimedia. The SmartCache IV family now features enhancements which were added since DPT introduced the product line at Comdex/Fall `95, where the product line was named one of three finalists in BYTE Magazine's "Best of COMDEX/Fall '95" award. Several controller and cache parameters are now user tunable via Storage Manager, DPT's storage management utility. This option allows the user to easily modify controller and cache parameters for optimal functionality. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. DPT, SmartCache IV's unique combination of a high-performance SCSI adapter See SCSI host adapter. and upgradability to RAID & caching provides a cost-effective, hardware-based solution and DPT's trademark "grow-as-you-go" architecture. SmartCache IV "docks" to the RAID & caching module (RC4040), converting the adapter to a full-function RAID controller A disk controller card that supports one or more RAID configurations. Originally only for SCSI drives, RAID controllers have become very popular for PATA and SATA drives. See RAID. supporting RAID levels 0, 1 and 5 (including dual-level arrays) with support for up to 64MB of hardware cache. Dual-level arrays provide for highly flexible array configurations and virtually unlimited expansion capabilties. Because users add functionality as they need it, the functionality and their costs are incremental. Pricing and Availability The SmartCache IV family includes: one ISA-to-SCSI, two EISA-to-SCSI and eight PCI-to-SCSI adapters (for PCs). The SmartCache IV PM2041W (ISA (1) (Instruction Set Architecture) See instruction set. (2) (Interactive Services Association) See Internet Alliance. (3) (Internet Security and Acceleration) See .NET. ), PM2042W (EISA (Extended ISA) Pronounced "ee-suh." A PC bus standard that extends the 16-bit ISA bus (AT bus) to 32 bits and provides bus mastering. ISA cards can plug into an EISA slot. ), PM2044W (PCI (1) (Payment Card Industry) See PCI DSS. (2) (Peripheral Component Interconnect) The most widely used I/O bus (peripheral bus). ) and PM2044UW(a) (PCI) adapters are lower-cost SCSI solutions designed for desktop systems and workgroup/department server environments, list prices starting as low as $265. These adapters feature a new DPT Application Specific Integrated Circuit integrated circuit (IC), electronic circuit built on a semiconductor substrate, usually one of single-crystal silicon. The circuit, often called a chip, is packaged in a hermetically sealed case or a nonhermetic plastic capsule, with leads extending from it for (ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) Pronounced "a-sick." A chip that is custom designed for a specific application rather than a general-purpose chip such as a microprocessor. ), co-developed by DPT and Motorola, which integrates a M68000/20MHz (MegaHertZ) One million cycles per second. It is used to measure the transmission speed of electronic devices, including channels, buses and the computer's internal clock. A one-megahertz clock (1 MHz) means some number of bits (16, 32, 64, etc. processor to yield greater speed and reliability. The higher performance SmartCache IV PM2142W (EISA), PM2144W (PCI) and PM2144UW(a) (PCI) adapters employ an on-board M68020/20MHz processor, providing up to three times more processing power for more demanding I/O environments. On-board processing power increases overall I/O system performance by reducing the time required to process SCSI commands by as much as 50 percent. Additional Features All SmartCache IV adapters feature: SCSI-3 compliance, support of 16-bit Wide SCSI providing throughput of up to 20Mbytes/second, (compared to 10Mbytes/second with standard 8-bit Fast SCSI), 100 percent compatibility with existing DPT software drivers, optional hardware RAID and caching support for increased performance and disk fault tolerance, and SCSI Configured Auto-Magically (SCAM) levels 1 and 2. SCAM, a protocol which performs SCSI device ID assignment without the use of jumpers or similar configuration settings, sets new standards for SCSI installation and ease-of-use. Ultra-Wide SCSI models with throughput up to 40Mbytes/second are also included in the SmartCache IV product family. DPT's caching technology delivers enhanced I/O performance and is designed to be a powerful complement to software caching schemes like those found in Windows `95, OS/2, NetWare, Windows NT, and Unix. The SmartCache IV RAID/Caching module (RC4040) supports up to 64Mbytes of hardware cache and accepts either standard 72-pin SIMMs or DPT's Error Correcting Code (ECC (1) (Error-Correcting Code) A type of memory that corrects errors on the fly. See ECC memory. (2) (Elliptic Curve Cryptography) A public key cryptography method that provides fast decryption and digital signature processing. ) SIMMs. DPT's ECC-protected SIMMs, available in 4MB and 16MB capacities, feature a unique ECC algorithm that corrects up to 32-bit memory errors. Additional fault tolerance features of the SmartCache IV family include: on-board alert capabilities, integral diagnostics and bad block reassignment. Global Hot-Spare support allows for easy on-line replacement and rapid recovery from a disk failure. Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology, or S.M.A.R.T., is a monitoring system for computer hard disks to detect and report on various indicators of reliability, in the hope of anticipating failures. (S.M.A.R.T.) -- an open industry standard which provides a storage subsystem with the ability to warn users of impending im·pend intr.v. im·pend·ed, im·pend·ing, im·pends 1. To be about to occur: Her retirement is impending. 2. disk drive failures, preventing system downtime and loss of valuable data. The SmartCache IV family is available for both OEMs and the distribution channel. SmartCache IV kits include an upgradable SmartCache IV adapter, internal SCSI cable, complete driver support for all major operating systems and DPT's Storage Manager software. For sales information or to schedule a demonstration or appointment with a DPT sales representative, call DPT Sales at 1-800-322-4378, fax 407/260-6690. For email inquiries, contact DPT Sales via the internet: sales@dpt.com. Or visit DPT's worldwide web site at: http://www.dpt.com. About DPT DPT is a leading supplier of high performance peripheral controllers, disk array products and storage management software for microcomputers. DPT's innovative technology includes the first caching disk controller and disk mirroring (RAID-1) controller for the PC. DPT products are made in the U.S.A. and are sold worldwide in more than 70 countries through a network of major distributors and OEMs, with 30 percent of DPT sales to international markets. The privately held company privately held company A firm whose shares are held within a relatively small circle of owners and are not traded publicly. was founded in 1977 by DPT President Steve Goldman. Based in Maitland (greater Orlando), Florida, DPT headquarters feature an eight-unit office complex and currently employs approximately 200 people. European sales offices are located in Milton Keynes, England, and Wolfratshausen (near Munich), Germany, and a government sales office located in Reston, Va. Contact DPT via phone, fax, BBS (1) (Bulletin Board System) A computer system used as an information source and forum for a particular interest group. They were widely used in the U.S. or its worldwide web site: http://www.dpt.com. (a) scheduled for launch in Q2 1996 -0- Note to Editors: DPT logo and images of SmartCache IV PCI card wtih RC4040 module and SIMMs card and other DPT products are available via Business Wire's Photo Bulletin Board (BBS). To download at no cost, call 1-800-221-2462 for user name and password for unlimited usage. For slides or spec sheets, contact Debra Eisenberg at 407/830-5522, extension 420. DPT, SmartCache and SmartRAID are registered trademarks of Distributed Processing Technology. All other trademarks are the sole property of their respective owners. Additonal information is also available via DPT's Fax on Demand Service. Call 1-800-549-0678. In the Internet/email address noted in this news release, there is an "at" symbol between sales and dpt.com and there is an "at" symbol in the contact information between eisenbrg and dpt.com. In the World Wide Web address, there is a double slash between http: and www.dpt.com. These symbols may not appear properly in some systems. CONTACT: Distributed Processing Technology, Maitland Steven Paulhus, Technical Marketing Mgr. 407/830-5522, Ext. 283 or Debra Eisenberg, Public Relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most Mgr. 407/830-5522, Ext. 420 Internet: eisenbrg@dpt.com |
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