Agilent Technologies Ships 2-Gb/s FC Host Adapters to Speed-Up Internet Access and Enterprise Storage

Business Wire, Oct 23, 2000

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 23, 2000

Fibre Channel Host Adapters Combine High Performance, Broad 2-Gb/s

Interoperability and Compatibility

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A), a leading provider of innovative technologies for communications and life sciences, today announced the industry's first shipments of 2-Gb/s PCI-to-Fibre Channel host bus adapters (HBAs). The 2-Gb/s capability means faster data exchange in storage area network (SAN) applications, such as Internet and Intranet access, digitized video, online transactional processing and other enterprise storage applications.

Designed to serve emerging SAN applications, the products support FC Class 2 and 3, automatically sensing and communicating with both 1- and 2-Gb/s devices.

"As the SAN market moves to 2 Gb/s, we are providing Fibre Channel support while ensuring interoperability with legacy 1-Gb/s products," said Bob Whitson, worldwide marketing manager for Agilent's Storage Networking Division. "We offer the industry's most complete 2-Gb/s Fibre Channel offering, encompassing component and board-level solutions."

Industry Leaders Comment on New Technology

"As a leading provider of SAN infrastructure, Brocade recognizes the value of Agilent's new 2-Gb/s Fibre Channel HBAs in enabling better SAN performance and faster speeds for storing, accessing and moving data," said Jack Cuthbert, vice president of Brocade's Worldwide Marketing.

"As disk drive technology moves to 2 Gb/s, SANs must implement new technology to fully utilize the new performance levels," said Dave Anderson, director of Seagate Technology's Systems Storage Architecture division. "Agilent's announcement is an important step in this direction."

These HBAs feature Agilent's 2-Gb/s Tachyon XL2 controller ICs. They provide 64-bit, 66 MHz PCI-to- 2 Gb Fiber Channel performance, including bootable BIOS, FC data transfer rates up to 400 Mbyte/s, and support software drivers for operating systems including Windows(R) 2000, Windows NT(R), AIX and Linux.

The HHBA-5221 features a small form factor fiber-optic transceiver supporting 1- or 2-Gb/s link speeds. The HHBA-5220 comes with a standard HSSDC copper media interface for applications, such as rack mounted storage arrays, and enables field upgrades to small-form-factor, pluggable optical transceivers, such as the Agilent HFBR-5720L.

Agilent is now sampling the HHBA-5221 with full volume production next month. The HHBA-5220 will sample in November, with production expected in January 2001. High-volume OEM pricing for the HHBA-5221 at market introduction will be $1,300.

Agilent and Adaptec FC Solutions

Agilent is a leading supplier of Fibre Channel solutions for the rapidly expanding SAN market. Additionally, Agilent is partnering with Adaptec to tailor Fibre Channel solutions for worldwide PC server OEMs and resellers. Adaptec builds Tachyon-based host adapters, and provides drivers and SAN management software backed by a strong sales, distribution, service and support infrastructure to help customers implement Fibre Channel in demanding, PC server computing environments.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a diversified technology company with approximately 46,000 employees serving customers in more than 120 countries. Agilent is a global leader in designing and manufacturing test, measurement and monitoring instruments, systems and solutions, and semiconductor and optical components. In fiscal year 1999, Agilent had net revenue of more than $8.3 billion. The company serves markets that include communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare.

Information about Agilent Technologies can be found on the Web at www.agilent.com.

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