Initio Corp. Introduces Its First LVD SCSI Host Adapter for Macintosh.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 3, 1998--

MilesU2W Delivers Data Transfer Up to 80MB/sec, Cable Lengths

Up to 12 Meters; Boosts I/O in Power Macintosh,

Macintosh Server, RAID Applications

Initio Corp., a developer of Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) solutions, today introduced its first Low-Voltage Differential (LVD) SCSI host adapter kit for the Apple(R) (www.apple.com) Macintosh(R) computing platform.

The new Initio(R) Miles(TM)U2W Ultra2 SCSI host adapter, whose LVD technology enables data transfers of up to 80MB/sec and SCSI cable lengths of up to 12 meters delivers unmatched SCSI input/output (I/O) performance and flexibility to Power Macintosh desktop systems, servers and redundant array of independent drives (RAID) applications.

MilesU2W, the newest member of Initio's Miles family of SCSI host adapters for the Macintosh platform, employs LVD's advanced signaling technology to strengthen data signals, allowing data to travel faster and farther than previously possible. Featuring an embedded I/O processor designed to maximize data transfers, the MilesU2W takes full advantage of the Power Macintosh's Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, bursting data as fast as 133MB/sec.

MilesU2W -- a complete kit with a 32-bit PCI Ultra2 SCSI host adapter, SoftRAID software from SoftRAID LLC (www.softraid.conley.com), utility software, self-terminated Ultra2 SCSI internal cable, and full documentation -- requires just one PCI expansion slot in Power Macintosh computers to connect up to 15 SCSI devices. Those devices can be any combination of SCSI, SCSI-2, SCSI-3, UltraSCSI and Ultra2 SCSI devices, including high-speed disks, as well as CD-ROM, removable, optical and tape drives.

Unleashing the Power of the Power Macintosh

Since it adopted the PCI bus and PowerPC architecture, the Macintosh platform has made tremendous leaps in processor speed and I/O performance. Still, even the most powerful Macintosh system leaves a void of I/O: its internal SCSI bus is limited to 10MB/sec. With MilesU2W, however, these systems can realize the speed and bandwidth necessary to meet the most demanding applications, such as graphics, video, Web servers, and fault-tolerant data storage.

"The Macintosh market has evolved to one where high-end applications put incredible demand on I/O and data storage," said Yousef Vazir, manager of strategic marketing at Initio. "We recognized this early and began applying to the Macintosh platform Initio's considerable SCSI and I/O expertise. With MilesU2W, we've established an unprecedented level of I/O for the Macintosh and its role in professional applications. MilesU2W is simply the best of its class."

LVD Maximizes I/O Performance of RAID, Multimedia, Video Applications

MilesU2W is particularly well suited for high-bandwidth applications, including RAID, desktop publishing, multimedia, and video environments.

MilesU2W's LVD technology removes Ultra SCSI's inherent limitations on both the distance between and total number of devices, allowing it to double data throughput and support up to 15 LVD devices on a 12-meter cable. In point-to-point applications such as external RAID storage devices, the cable length can be extended to as much as 25 meters. In its single-ended (SE) mode, the MilesU2W is backward compatible, allowing users to mix LVD with legacy SCSI devices, including removable, digital-audio, magneto-optical, CD-ROM drives, jukeboxes, and scanners.

An important feature of MilesU2W that truly sets it apart from previous SCSI I/O sotibility while delivering the performance requiI/O processing power in Power Macintosh systemsus-mastering capabilities, minimizing interventiibility with

the large installed base of Pwww.ingrammicro.com), Merisel (www.merisel.com),industry, including Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) host adapters and software. Founded in 1994, Initio is based in San Jose, Calif.

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