JNI Corporation Announces Independent Hardware Vendor Agreement With IBM for InfiniBand HCA Modules.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

Intel Developer Forum 2002

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 26, 2002

IBM Puts JNI IBP-1x02 PCI-to-InfiniBand HCA Modules on Recommended

Products List for DB2 Development Environments Running Linux

JNI(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:JNIC), the first company to introduce 10 Gb InfiniBand(SM) HCA Modules, today announced that JNI has become an IBM Business Partner to IBM (NYSE:IBM) as an independent hardware vendor providing JNI's InfiniStar(TM) IBP-1x02 PCI-to-InfiniBand HCA Modules for certain DB2 development environments.

The IHV relationship means JNI's HCA Modules will be on the approved list of PCI-bus HCA modules that can be used by developers to create clustered server environments for DB2 under the Linux operating system. The intent is to develop solutions that will speed deployment of InfiniBand server clustering technology for DB2 environments.

"The ease of deployment, the performance, and the attractive cost of ownership of InfiniBand clusters opens the door for more e-businesses wishing to scale to larger amounts of data and higher numbers of users," said Lauren Flaherty, vice president of marketing, IBM Data Management Solutions. "The support that JNI provides DB2 database environments through this partnership with IBM opens up new possibilities for Linux-based e-business solutions."

"IBM is taking a leadership position in the deployment of InfiniBand into the data center through one of the most important environments in enterprise computing, DB2," said Neal Waddington, president and CEO of JNI Corporation. "DB2 and similar enterprise-level databases are the driving force in the global data center, around which nearly all mission-critical applications are built. By leveraging InfiniBand's scalability and reliability, DB2 users will be able to deploy robust and cost-effective data center solutions using InfiniBand. JNI and IBM will work closely with the DB2 community to assure that vision quickly becomes a reality."

IBM and JNI will both demonstrate their InfiniBand and IBM DB2 solutions at the Intel Developers Forum, Feb. 25-28 at the Moscone Center, San Francisco. JNI will demonstrate its IBP-1x02 in IBM's DB2 demonstration at IDF running under Linux. In addition, JNI will demonstrate its HCA Modules in the JNI booth using the InfiniSwitch leaf switch and Lane 15 management software running streaming applications.

IBP-1x02 Product Details

The new JNI InfiniStar IBP-1x02 2.5 Gb Host Channel Adapter (HCA) Module is a PCI-to-InfiniBand channel adapter that extends the I/O functions of a server outside its enclosure. The HCA Module, which operates at 2.5 gigabits-per-second (Gb) will be available in volume in the First Quarter 2002. JNI HCA Modules with expanded driver support for multiple host operating systems will be available in mid-2002.

The dual-port IBP-1x02 offers 2.5 Gb speed in each direction for each 1x port. In full duplex mode it offers 10 Gb speed per HCA Module. The total maximum potential throughput for the IBP-1x02 2.5 Gb HCA Module is 1.25 GB, at 312 MB in each direction over each port (312 MB x 2 directions x 2 ports) although the PCI bus may limit sustained throughput. These data throughput rates enable simultaneous storage area network, communication and cluster server-to-server traffic. Other product details include:

-- Full VIPL and DAFS Support: The InfiniStar HCA Modules will support VIPL
(Virtual Interface Provider Layer) and Direct Access File System (DAFS)
protocols, which are required to support database applications, such as SAS,
Oracle 9i and DB2. In addition, JNI plans to support the Direct Access
Transport (DAT) Protocol when completed.

-- Multiple Operating System Support: The IBP-1x02 will support Microsoft
Windows 2000, Solaris 8 and Red Hat Linux 7.1.x operating systems, as well as
other OS support through third-party drivers.

-- SRP Support: The HCA Module supports SCSI Remote DMA (SRP) for seamless
integration (through a Target Channel Adapter) with any other storage network
protocol supporting SRP, including Fibre Channel, iSCSI and SCSI.

-- 24/7/365 Tech Support and On-Site Support: JNI is the only vendor of its
size to offer live 24 hour/7 day week/365 days per year technical support to
solve configuration or operational problems; in addition, JNI's network of FAEs
are available to assist with large customer installations and support
requirements.

-- Released and Open Standard: InfiniBand Architecture technology has made
tremendous progress since the release of the specification in October 2000.
InfiniBand is currently released at version 1.0.a, with several products on the
market today developed to agreed-to open standards of the technology. In
addition, as an open standard, end users are not tied into a single solution,
but can assemble the "best of breed" products for their given IT requirements.

JNI's InfiniBand Strategy

JNI first disclosed its InfiniBand strategic initiative on Nov. 2001 when the company articulated its vision for InfiniBand product development, its joint strategic partnership with Mellanox Technologies, and the introduction of a new family of InfiniStar(TM) HCA Modules targeted for clustered server environments and extended I/O support.

"InfiniBand represents a very complementary expansion of JNI's core Fibre Channel business and will allow us to leverage our leadership position in storage networking for the data center," Waddington said. "Every major server and storage manufacturer we work with has an InfiniBand initiative."

Among the major server and storage OEMs that have announced public support for InfiniBand are Brocade Communications, Compaq, Dell, EMC, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi Data Systems, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Network Appliance and Sun Microsystems.

"IDC is seeing IT spending being very focused on improving computing efficiencies. This would imply that server and storage consolidation, reducing total cost of ownership, could play very well into an InfiniBand adoption plan," said Vernon Turner, IDC vice president, global enterprise server solutions.

1.8 Million Server Ports by 2004

An IDC Bulletin from October 2001 estimates there will be 1.86 million InfiniBand ports in servers shipped in 2004. That number jumps to almost 7.7 million InfiniBand server ports by 2005. This new report takes into account lower expected server shipments due to economic and post-Sept. 11 factors; recent technology developments such as 3GIO and iSCSI that could challenge InfiniBand deployment; and more detailed research and feedback from server, storage and InfiniBand companies.

This would suggest a tremendous market for InfiniBand HCA modules and switches. Outlined in these statistics are new server shipments with both native InfiniBand connectivity and InfiniBand connectivity provided by products such as HCA Modules.

In addition, there are further opportunities to upgrade existing or legacy systems to InfiniBand as InfiniBand I/O switches and networks are deployed.

Enabling Server Area Networks

JNI InfiniStar HCA Modules enable standard servers to reap the performance and scalability benefits of InfiniBand-enabled clustered servers. For example, in environments where high server density is required, a single InfiniBand HCA Module can replace multiple interface cards or adapter cards required to link the servers to storage, local area network, output and other I/O functions.

This application has been called a "Server Area Network" because the scalability, flexibility and topology are similar to "Storage Area Networks" (SANs), enabled by Fibre Channel today.

"As Fibre Channel technology enabled the removal of storage from the server and the creation of storage area networks, InfiniBand has the ability to separate the server CPU from the I/O bus to create Server Area Networks," Waddington said.

About JNI Corporation

JNI Corporation is one of the leading manufacturers of connectivity products for the enterprise data center. JNI offers a broad line of Fibre Channel HBAs, ASICs and software for storage area networks, as well as HCA Modules for InfiniBand. JNI's PCI, SBus and CompactPCI HBAs operate on Solaris, Windows 2000, Windows NT, HP-UX, AIX, Novell, Linux and Mac OS systems. JNI's high availability HBAs and software are certified in single, multi-host and cluster environments for Windows NT and 2000, and Solaris. JNI customers, distributors and strategic partners include Acal FCS, Bell Microproducts, Brocade, Chaparral, Compaq StorageWorks, Consan, Crossroads, EMC, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi Data Systems, IBM, InfiniSwitch, Info X, LSI Logic, McDATA, Mellanox Technologies, Nishan Systems, StorageTek, Sun Microsystems, TidalWire, Troika Networks and Veritas. Company headquarters is in San Diego, with offices throughout the United States and Europe.

JNI -- enterprising solutions(TM)

Forward Looking Statements

With the exception of historical information, the statements set forth above include forward-looking statements (including, without limitation, express or implied statements about the availability and features of planned InfiniBand products and technologies, growth in the market for InfiniBand and JNI's ability to timely develop InfiniBand products that achieve market acceptance) that involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These risks include: the rapidly changing technology in JNI's markets; the evolving industry standards; frequent introductions of new products and enhancements; the very early stage of development of the InfiniBand market; competition in JNI's markets; JNI's reliance on certain contract manufacturers, OEMs, distributors and key customers and the other risks discussed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

JNI, JNIC, InfiniStar, and "enterprising solutions" are trademarks or registered trademarks of JNI Corporation. InfiniSwitch is a trademark of InfiniSwitch Corporation. InfiniBridge and Mellanox are trademarks or registered trademarks of Mellanox Technologies. InfiniBand is a servicemark of the InfiniBand Trade Association. All other registered trademarks and trademarks are the property of their respective holders.