Encore accelerates paradigm shift; Intelligent Storage Controllers outfeature and outperform all fixed function DASD controllers.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 9, 1995--Encore Infinity SP(tm) Universal Storage Processors represent a new class of DASD controllers.

The old paradigm was to maximize performance within single function controllers. The Infinity SP provides the industry's widest array of functionality without sacrificing performance...in fact the Infinity SP is now the performance leader among DASD controllers.

For the past year, industry analysts have been predicting a paradigm shift in enterprise data management with the emergence of Intelligent Storage Controllers. Encore Infinity SP Universal Storage Processors are the industry's first such intelligent controllers. What was not predicted was that intelligent storage controllers could outperform fixed function controllers. The Encore Infinity SP Universal Storage Processors have done just that!

To help Encore evaluate the performance, scalability and functionality of the Industry SP Series, Encore requested the services of two industry experts, Mark Friedman of Demand Technology Inc., and Dr. H. Pat Artis of Performance Associates Inc.

Encore has been working with Mark Friedman of Demand Technology to quantify how the advanced capabilities of the computer-based Infinity SP architecture can bring benefit to existing data processing environments and effect the paradigm shift.

Friedman noted that, "The new Encore storage processor paradigm enables them to leverage sophisticated software running on standard computing components to map IBM-proprietary disks to high-performance commodity SCSI disks." Friedman went on to say: "The emergence of enhanced functions such as cross-platform collaboration, fault tolerance, failover, automatic recovery, and data compression necessitates that all manufacturers of IBM compatible disks shift to storage processor designs like those from Encore.

"The Infinity SP is based on a pre-existing scalable parallel processing hardware/software platform. Other manufacturers must struggle to create a suitable parallel processing environment from standard computing elements. Since the Infinity SP software runs on top of UNIX Encore is also able to demonstrate an unprecedented degree of MVS and UNIX/Open Systems interoperability. The Infinity SP represents the most advanced step anyone has taken to date toward creating a high-performance, network-attached storage system that can be seamlessly accessed from both mainframes and open systems."

Dr. H. Pat Artis, a respected industry consultant in I/O performance measurement, independently tested and audited the performance of two-node and four-node Infinity SP40 configurations. Encore believes that the audited PAI/O Driver(tm) Uniform Test Series results, realizing in excess of 7200 I/Os per second, establish the Encore four-node Infinity SP40 as the highest performance I/O processor for the mainframe market today.

More importantly, the test results confirm Encore's ability to scale Infinity SP controllers to meet the increased demands of multi-platform enterprises. Encore expects to announce configurations with test results in excess of 10,000 I/Os per second in the near future.

Kenneth G. Fisher, chairman and chief executive officer of Encore Computer Corp., shares Friedman's excitement and is very pleased with Dr. Artis' test results: "These tests really prove what we've known all along, we've got the best performance and capabilities in storage technology in the market today. It's ready and shipping now."

Fisher added: "Proprietary controllers cannot keep pace with the functionality and performance attributes of the Infinity SP. They cannot take advantage of current software and hardware technology. The market will soon recognize it's time for the traditional suppliers to go back to the drawing board."

Infinity SP Universal Storage Processors support advanced universal data management functions not available from storage vendors with fixed function controllers. The systems provide multi-platform capacity allocations, mainframe-to-UNIX(r)/Open Systems data sharing, remote maintenance, and variable RAID partitions. In addition, the Encore Infinity SP is the industry's only disk subsystem capable of scaling to meet the increased I/O demands of these newly emerging multi-host enterprise requirements.

Unlike conventional disk controllers, the Infinity SP storage processing "nodes" can be grown in place to accommodate increasing I/O demands. Since the Infinity SP can share not only physical resources, but actual disk data between mainframes and open systems, several dissimilar hosts can be configured on a multi-node Infinity SP40.

Encore Computer Corp., a worldwide company headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, is the world's leading innovator in scalable real-time data storage, data retrieval, and data sharing technologies for mixed platform processing environments. Encore is a publicly held corporation, with shares traded on the NASDAQ National Market system (ENCC). -0-

Note to Editors: Infinity SP, DataShare and Infinity Gateway are trademarks of Encore Computer Corp.

UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries licensed exclusively through X/Open Co. Ltd.

IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines. MVS is a trademark of International Business Machines.

PAI/O Driver is a trademark of Performance Associates Inc.

CONTACT: Small Marketing Communications, Coral Gables, Fla.

Virginia Small, 305/461-2114

or

Encore Computer Corp., Fort Lauderdale

Charles S. Anderson or Lynne M. Connors,

305/797-5605 or 305/797-5736