Hitachi Data Systems Delivers First Microsoft-Designated Simple SAN Solution for Windows Server Environments.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Hitachi Data Systems (NYSE:HIT):

--Company Continues to Extend Enterprise-Class Storage Solutions to Broader Set of Customers

--Collaborates with Microsoft and QLogic to Bring "Out of Box" SAN Experience to Small and Medium Size Enterprises

--Simplifies SAN Implementation and Management while Reducing Cost

Hitachi Data Systems Corporation, provider of Application Optimized Storage(TM) solutions and a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT), today announced that it is making storage area network (SAN) implementation and management simpler, easier and less costly for small and medium size enterprises. Collaborating with Microsoft and QLogic(R) Corp., Hitachi Data Systems offers Plug-and-play SAN Kits compatible with Microsoft Simple SAN for Windows Server(TM) 2003 initiative on its Hitachi TagmaStore(TM) Adaptable Modular Storage and Workgroup Modular Storage. Hitachi Data Systems is the first storage array provider to achieve Microsoft's Simple SAN for Windows Server designation in the complete solution category.

Large enterprises have long experienced the benefits of implementing SANs, in which storage is uncoupled from servers and attached to a network where many servers can access the storage device. By sharing storage on the network, SANs enable highly scalable and flexible storage resource allocation, better storage utilization and higher availability. However, many smaller organizations find that SANs can be expensive and difficult to install and manage.

The Plug-and-play SAN Kits for the Hitachi TagmaStore(TM) AMS200, AMS500 and WMS100 systems, designed to provide "out of box" SAN experience for users, enable small and medium size enterprises to install a SAN quickly, in most cases under an hour, without on-site assistance. The kits, available in 2Gb/s or 4Gb/s configurations, include all the hardware and software necessary to connect servers to a first SAN or to extend a SAN from the data center to a distant workgroup:

--QLogic SANbox(R) Fibre Channel switch, and

--Two QLogic SANblade(R) Fibre Channel host bus adapters (HBAs)

--Cabling to physically connect the SAN

--QLogic SANsurfer Express software which automates the entire process with wizards and provides one console for managing the switch, HBA, and storage system

The TagmaStore AMS and WMS systems can be provisioned directly from Microsoft Windows.

"Microsoft and Hitachi Data Systems are working together to hide the complexity of SANs by ensuring interoperability of storage resources in the Windows platform and simplifying hardware set up," said Dr. Claude Lorenson, Group Product Manager, of the Windows Server Division at Microsoft Corporation. "The plug-and-play kits from Hitachi Data Systems, compatible with Microsoft's Simple SAN initiative, give smaller organizations enterprise-class storage flexibility and reliability without the costs and complexity traditionally associated with SANs."

"From offering advanced virtualization functionality across all our product lines to today's announcement of 'out of box' SAN solutions, we are committed to bringing enterprise-class storage platforms to small and medium size enterprises," said Jack Domme, senior vice president of Global Solutions Strategy and Development at Hitachi Data Systems. "Our close collaboration with Microsoft and QLogic to bring to market Simple SAN solutions ensures that data belonging to any size organization is more secure, more accessible and more available than ever before."

"Hitachi Data Systems has rapidly changed the face of storage networking in the enterprise," said Frank Berry, vice president of marketing, QLogic Corp. "By providing SAN solutions for small and medium businesses that are easy to buy, install, and manage, we expect they will have a similar impact in this rapidly evolving market."

TagmaStore Modular Storage

The Hitachi TagmaStore Adaptable Modular Storage models AMS200 and AMS500, and Workgroup Modular Storage model WMS100, offer the most scalable, high-performance and high-availability systems in their category. Leveraging many high-end features, such as logical cache partitioning and RAID-6, the AMS200, AMS500 and WMS100 are ideal for small- and medium-sized businesses that are generating fast-growing amounts of data and need to meet application requirements for availability and performance in a small footprint.

About Hitachi Data Systems

Hitachi Data Systems leverages global R&D resources to develop storage solutions built on industry-leading technology with the performance, availability and scalability to maximize customers' ROI and minimize their risk. By focusing on the customer's perspective as we apply the best hardware, software and services from Hitachi and our partners, we uniquely satisfy our customers' business needs.

With approximately 2,900 employees, Hitachi Data Systems conducts business through direct and indirect channels in the public, government and private sectors in over 170 countries and regions. Its customers include more than 50 percent of Fortune 100 companies. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.hds.com.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE:HIT), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 347,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2004 (ended March 31, 2005) consolidated sales totaled 9,027.0 billion yen ($84.4 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's Website at http://www.hitachi.com.

(C) 2006, Hitachi Data Systems Corporation. Hitachi Data Systems is registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a trademark and service mark of Hitachi, Ltd. Application Optimized Storage and TagmaStore are trademarks of Hitachi Data Systems Corporation. All other trade names, trademarks, and service marks used herein are the rightful property of their respective owners.