HITACHI DATA SYSTEMS ANNOUNCES NEXT STEP TOWARD SEAMLESS STORAGE MANAGEMENT.

Hitachi Data Systems, has taken the next step toward seamless enterprise-wide storage management with the launch of HiCommand 2.0. This new revision of Hitachi Data Systems' storage management framework features "link and launch" integration of the Sun StorEdge Resource Manager software and adds Sun StorEdge T3 arrays to its portfolio of managed storage systems. With these enhancements to HiCommand, storage administrators can now, not only manage multiple vendor storage systems, but also monitor, analyze, and maximize resource utilization from a single console.

"Our customers tell us that their storage management costs are increasing rapidly as their storage environments become ever more heterogeneous and complex. HiCommand 2.0 helps on all counts by supporting Hitachi and Sun storage families and making it easier to manage enormous amounts of data storage and optimize its use. These new capabilities further lower total cost of ownership," said Marlene Woodworth, vice president, general manager, Global Marketing and Operations, Hitachi Data Systems. "With this new release of HiCommand we continue to deliver on one of the goals of the Hitachi, Sun agreement last June which was to provide businesses with the best and simplest storage management solutions. We're excited to see those goals coming to fruition. And there's plenty more to come -- so stay tuned."

An integrated "link and launch" feature allows administrators with both HiCommand and Sun StorEdge Resource Manager to easily move across storage management software for a full view of their storage resources. Sun StorEdge Resource Manager software provides simple, easy-to-use reports of the logical and physical attributes associated with a multi-vendor storage environments. Reports generated from this software can help administrators accurately assess current conditions and view trending analysis to make informed decisions concerning ways to optimize their storage environment, so that service levels can be achieved.

Designed as an open framework, HiCommand provides a set of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) which allow industry-leading software vendors to seamlessly integrate their applications with HiCommand. Nearly 40 independent software vendors (ISVs) are writing to the HiCommand APIs, including Sun Microsystems, VERITAS, Microsoft, BMC, Computer Associates, and InterSAN. Customers can also 'plug in' existing or new applications to HiCommand.

HiCommand allows storage administrators to be much more effective with an easy-to-use Java-based GUI browser that can manage storage systems from anywhere, shortening the staff training ramp and simplifying storage management processes for faster responses to change. In addition, HiCommand host agents, running on the application servers attached to the storage system, report back on unutilized LUN capacity, providing necessary information without the customer having to access multiple servers. HiCommand user authorization allows storage managers to delegate frequent and simple requests to less experienced operators without compromising security or performance. With HiCommand 2.0 customers can now manage Hitachi Freedom Storage Lightning 9900 and Thunder 9200, as well as Sun StorEdge 9900 series and Sun StorEdge T3 arrays.

HiCommand2.0 will be generally available in February 2002.