Fujitsu and ADIC put New Drive into Automated Libraries; Fujitsu M8100 Half-Inch Drive Available in ADIC Automated Mixed-Media Libraries.

Business Editors, High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif./REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 23, 2000

In a move designed to widen the options for IT departments that store, manage, and analyze large data sets, Fujitsu Computer Products of America and Advanced Digital Information Corporation (Nasdaq:ADIC) today announced integration of the new Fujitsu M8100 tape drive into ADIC's Automated Mixed-Media Libraries (AMLs).

The Fujitsu M8100 tape drive is a new, high performance entrant into the half-inch format tape storage market. Its fast data transfer rate of 13.5 MB/second and high capacity 10GB per cartridge (native) make it a logical choice for use in high data volume applications, including enterprise backup and mission critical near-line storage. Like other Fujitsu drives, the M8100 delivers industry-leading reliability with a Mean-Time-Between-Failure (MTBF) rating of 100,000 hours and an estimated Annual Failure Rate (AFR) of less than 0.9 percent. Additionally, the M8100 format is compatible with IBM 3590B Magstar drives.

"We are pleased with the results of ADIC's compatibility testing and integration of our M8100 drive in the company's leading-edge AML libraries; this integration represents an important step in achieving industry acceptance of Fujitsu's tape drive products for mission-critical near-line storage applications," commented Ray Falce, senior vice president of Fujitsu Computer Products of America's tape products group.

"Adding the new Fujitsu drives to our AML libraries is important for the data storage industry and for ADIC," explained Bill Britts, ADIC executive vice president of Sales and Marketing. "With network data more than doubling every year, IT departments need faster, higher capacity, and more robust tools to help them store and protect their information. The new Fujitsu drive is a welcome and important new option for them."

Designed for large-scale data storage applications, ADIC AML libraries offer the industry's widest range of capacity and drive options. AML libraries offer from 320 data slots up to more than 50,000, creating more than 500 TB of storage space. AML libraries offer room for an impressively large number of Fujitsu M8100 drives, with maximum counts that range from 114 all the way up to 256. This equates to data transfers of 5.5 TB/second to 12.4 TB/second, respectively, thus reducing backup and restore windows to a minimum. Just as important, AML libraries all offer easy scalability, allowing users to add capacity and drive counts in easy modules that never require pass-through ports. For IT departments with legacy drives or more complex storage needs, the libraries also allow them to mix M8100 drives and media with optical storage or other tape formats.

About ADIC

With more than 55,000 automated tape libraries installed and a suite of innovative software solutions and Storage Area Networking (SAN) products, ADIC is a leading global provider in the growing market to manage and protect information for computer networks. Marketed under ADIC and ADIC/GRAU brands and the brands of OEM partners, including Dell, Fujitsu Siemens, IBM, Exabyte and Unisys, the Company's automated tape libraries are available with DLTtape, AIT, D2, half-inch, and 4mm tape technologies, and are supported by leading backup and storage management software products for Windows NT, UNIX, and mainframe operating systems. The Company's own storage management tools include AMASS(R), FileServ and CentraVision, software products which provide users with shared access to network data. A pioneer in Storage Area Networks, ADIC's Open SAN solutions combine open-system SAN hardware and software with installation services and single-call support. Further ADIC information is available at http://www.adic.com.

About Fujitsu Limited

Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) is a leading provider of comprehensive information technology and network solutions for the global marketplace. Comprising over 500 group companies and affiliates worldwide -- including ICL, Amdahl and DMR Consulting Group -- the Fujitsu Group had consolidated revenues of 5.24 trillion yen ($43.3 billion) in the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999. With world-class hardware and software technology in computers, telecommunications and microelectronics, and a corps of 55,000 systems and services experts around the world, Fujitsu is uniquely positioned to harness the power of the network to help its customers succeed. Altogether, the Fujitsu Group has 188,000 employees and operations in over 100 countries. Home page: http://www.fujitsu.co.jp/index-e.html

About Fujitsu Computer Products of America, Inc.

Fujitsu Computer Products of America, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujitsu Limited. Benefiting from Fujitsu Ltd.'s $3 billion annual investment in research and development, Fujitsu Computer Products of America provides innovative solutions for the U.S. marketplace. Current product offerings include: high performance hard disk drives, tape drives, magneto-optical drives, high performance scanners and printers. The company of approximately 700 employees encompasses research and development operations in Longmont, Colo.; computer peripheral repair in Hillsboro, Ore.; engineering and marketing in San Jose, Calif.; and sales operations throughout the United States. Fujitsu Computer Products of America is based in San Jose, Calif. and is located at 2904 Orchard Parkway, San Jose, Calif. 95134. For more information about Fujitsu products and services, use our Internet Web site at http://www.fcpa.com. The company can be reached by phone at 800/626-4686 or 408/432-6333.

Fujitsu and the Fujitsu logo are registered trademarks of Fujitsu Limited. ADIC, AMASS, CentraVision, and FileServ are trademarks of Advanced Digital Information Corporation. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.