Datalink Deploys NetApp iSCSI Storage Solution for Business Critical Applications; Solution is Cost Effective, Fast, and Easy to Manage.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Datalink Corporation (Nasdaq:DTLK) announced today that it has deployed an IP-based storage area network (SAN) for its corporate email and back-office applications. Based on standard iSCSI technology, the consolidated storage solution provides Datalink with an affordable, simple to manage SAN solution. iSCSI technology eliminated the need to install and manage a separate or new network technology for storage and it enabled the company to leverage its investment and expertise in its existing low-cost and simple-to-use Ethernet networking infrastructure.

"Like most organizations, we face continuous data growth, compounded by increasing demands for uptime. Adding servers often makes the problem worse. And, adding staff isn't always feasible," said Tom Sylvester, chief information officer, Datalink. "Consolidating our storage environment helped us simplify day-to-day management, enabling us to redeploy staff to strategic IT initiatives, and easily scale as business needs dictate."

Featuring clustered Network Appliance(TM) (Nasdaq:NTAP) FAS900 series storage systems, the solution simultaneously supports both file- and block-level data access, procedures which previously required multiple systems. The NetApp(R) unified storage solution provides Datalink with an affordable alternative to its direct-attached storage infrastructure, where Fibre Channel was found to be unnecessary and economically unfeasible. In addition, the IP SAN solution was attractive in the Datalink environment, where server proliferation was making storage management complex and expensive.

"As an early adopter of an IP-based SAN for business critical applications, we have been extremely pleased with its performance, manageability, and low cost of ownership," said Sylvester. "Fibre Channel and IP-based SANs are both viable options. While we are strong advocates of Fibre Channel-based SANs, IP SANs using iSCSI technology provide a complementary alternative that extends the reach of storage networking in most organizations."

ABOUT DATALINK

Datalink Corporation is a leading information storage architect. The company analyzes, designs, implements, and supports information storage infrastructures that store, protect, and provide continuous access to information. Datalink's specialized capabilities and solutions span storage area networks, network-attached storage, direct-attached storage, and IP-based storage, using industry-leading hardware, software, and technical services. Recent news releases and other information are available at www.datalink.com.