Gadzoox Networks Announces Modular SAN Switch Offering Configuration Flexibility, Scalability and Extensibility for Advanced SAN Solutions.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 4, 1999--

Innovative Capellix(tm) Chassis Switch Capabilities

Recognized by CLARiiON, LSI Logic, Seagate Technology,

Sun Microsystems & Veritas Software 

Gadzoox Networks, Inc., a leader in SAN (storage area network) products today announced Capellix, an innovative chassis-based switch for building comprehensive storage-server connectivity solutions.

By employing a modular and upgradable architecture, the Capellix chassis switch is designed to enable superior configuration flexibility, scalability and extensibility compared to traditional fixed configuration switches. Featuring port scalability from 6 to 34-ports, a 28-gigbit per second switching backplane and support for multifunction and multiprotocol plug in modules, Gadzoox believes the Capellix chassis switch forms a solid foundation for building SAN solutions.

To address the significant growth in enterprise data, SANs have emerged to provide a scalable and manageable infrastructure for storage. Following an evolutionary path, SANs provide a superior total cost of ownership model as more servers, system software, storage management applications and storage subsystems become SAN-enabled. To provide users an opportunity to realize the maximum benefits of their SAN-based solutions, the SAN infrastructure must provide an enduring level of scalability and extensibility to keep pace with surrounding innovations.

"As a SAN market leader, we recognized the need to evolve the capabilities of SANs while continuing to preserve our customers' investments in the installed base," said Dave Tang, Gadzoox vice president of marketing. "Our innovative Capellix switch helps ensure that SAN solutions can be built and extended seamlessly through a modular, upgradable design. To help ensure ease of integration and interoperability with existing installations, the standards-based storage switch plug in modules can eliminate the cost and complexity of alternative Fabric backbone switches."

"Gadzoox Capellix Switch provides scalability, flexibility, and extensibility," said Robert Gray, IDC, research director, worldwide storage subsystems research. "The Gadzoox Capellix switch provides a very modular way to build, grow and manage a SAN."

Scalability and Performance

Capellix is designed to provide quick and easy integration into new and existing SANs, since storage switch technology is based on the same Fibre Channel-Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL) protocol standard. With a modular chassis, Capellix is an excellent choice for building new or extending existing Fibre Channel SANs.

The Capellix switch chassis supports up to three PIMs (plug in modules), which enable "pay-as-you-grow" port scalability as well as mix and match configuration flexibility with a choice of GBIC, optical or copper connectors. By employing small form factor connectors, the Capellix switch can be configured with up to 34 ports. To provide the performance required in more demanding SAN environments, Capellix features a 28-gigabit per second backplane with switching latency of less than 2 microseconds. The combination of port count and bandwidth enable Capellix to provide switching performance that would typically require more than five fixed configuration 8-port switches.

Resiliency and Manageability

Building on Gadzoox embedded management technology, the second generation Reflex(tm) II feature is designed to provide robust network stability and reliability for switched environments. By constantly monitoring and analyzing the status of SAN devices, Reflex II detects, isolates and suppresses disruptive events. For centralized monitoring and control of the SAN, Gadzoox' Ventana(tm) SAN Manager GUI provides complete end-to-end manageability and facilitates the administration of advanced switch and SAN services.

Extensibility

To enable the addition of advanced capabilities and help ensure the ongoing support of the developing SAN management standards, the modular architecture of the Capellix switch facilitates a broad range of hardware PIMs and downloadable agents. By placing the physical port connectors and their protocol engines on PIMs that are independent of the switching backplane, the Capellix switch is designed to support multiple protocols, high-speed up-links and new connector types through future PIMs. The downloadable agent architecture supports the addition or upgrade of a broad range of agents, APIs and MIBs for extending SAN management capabilities.

Quotes from the Industry

"CLARiiON is fully committed to providing a modular approach for building a SAN foundation. The combination of open SAN components and CLARiiON full Fibre Channel storage arrays brings the highest levels of scalability, performance and data protection," said Joanne Masingill, vice president of marketing at the CLARiiON Advanced Storage Division of Data General. "Gadzoox is demonstrating the benefits of modularity with the new Capellix switch, which will further enable customers to effectively build and expand their storage infrastructure."

"As a leading supplier of scalable storage solutions for SANs, LSI Logic welcomes the entry of the Gadzoox Capellix switch into the market", said Marty Francis, Director of Strategic Marketing and Business Development for MetaStor Storage Solutions by LSI Logic. "The Gadzoox Capellix switch provides an easy to use solution that has the flexibility needed to accommodate future capabilities that will emerge for SAN solutions. LSI Logic and Gadzoox share the goal of open SAN environments and are committed to ensuring interoperable solutions for our common customers."

"The future of the SAN is bright, and Seagate Technology will provide the hard disc drives that will move storage into the next century," said Nigel MacLeod, VP Engineering at Seagate Technology. "The move to higher speed fibre channel devices, will require a flexible high-performance SAN switch technology, like the Gadzoox Capellix chassis switch."

"As a recognized leader in SAN connectivity, Gadzoox is making an important contribution to the storage industry with its commitment to adapt the innovative Capellix switch to Project StoreX as the technology becomes available," said Jeff Allen, vice president of marketing for Sun Microsystems Network Storage. "Gadzoox and Sun share a vision of SANs bring greater interoperability and flexible, innovative choices for SAN users."

"As the information-centric computing model enabled by SANs becomes more widely adopted, we expect storage connectivity requirements to change and grow rapidly," said Bill North, Director of Storage Network Programs for VERITAS Software. "The scalable, modular architecture and downloadable agents of the Gadzoox Capellix Chassis switch provide the flexibility to easily adapt to evolving SAN requirements, and make it an excellent connectivity platform for VERITAS applications."

Pricing & Availability

The list price for the base configuration of the Capellix switch is $9,998 and includes the modular chassis and one 8-port storage switch PIM. The per port list price for a 24-port configuration is $625. A high availability chassis with hot pluggable power supplies and redundant fans is also available. The product is currently in evaluation at several OEM sites. General availability is targeted for Q3 1999.

Gadzoox Networks Offers Broad Line of SAN Products

Gadzoox, a leader in the SAN market, has developed such industry-first products as Bitstrip(tm) (gigabit Fibre Channel hub), Gibraltar(tm) (managed Fibre Channel hub), Ventana(tm) (SAN management software application), Denali(tm) (switch supporting embedded backup agent), and the standards-based storage switch technology.

About Gadzoox Networks, Inc.

Gadzoox Networks, Inc. is a leader in SAN (storage area network) products. The company provides networking solutions for enterprise storage with scalable, managed SAN solutions based on Gadzoox' Fibre Channel hubs, switches and management products. Serving as modular building blocks, Gadzoox' products are designed to address the growth in enterprise data through the evolving capabilities of SANs. Headquartered in San Jose, CA, Gadzoox is privately held. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.gadzoox.com or call 888/423-3222.

Note to editor: Gadzoox and the Gadzoox logo are registered trademark of Gadzoox Networks, Inc. Bitstrip, Denali, Gibraltar, Ventana and Capellix are trademarks of Gadzoox Networks, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.