Vixel 9000 Series 2 Gb/s Fibre Channel Switches Pass the Fibre Channel Industry Association's SANmark Qualification Program

Business Wire, Nov 6, 2001

Business Editors, High-Tech Writers

BOTHELL, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 6, 2001

Successful Qualification Points to New Level of Interoperability

of Vixel Switches in Multivendor Environments

Vixel Corporation (Nasdaq:VIXL), a leading provider of storage area networking (SAN) solutions and a member of the Fibre Channel Industry Association (FCIA), announced that its 9000 series 2 Gb/s Fibre Channel fabric switches have successfully completed the SANmark(TM) Qualification Program.

The 9000 series has now achieved full compliance with both the switch-to-switch E_port interoperability standard (by passing the FCIA's SCD 3001 test suite) as well as the switch-to-arbitrated loop device interoperability standard (by passing the FCIA's SCD 3002 test suite).

The SANmark Qualification Program assures end users a qualified level of interoperability between compliant products implemented in Fibre Channel Storage Area Networks, allowing direct replacement of switches and other interconnect devices and promoting the implementation of multivendor SANs. This offers users the flexibility to upgrade the performance level of their SANs and add new technologies without being confined to a single vendor's product line.

"This is great news for both Vixel and for SAN users everywhere," says Beth White, vice president of marketing, Vixel Corporation. "Performance and value have always been Vixel's strongest suits and now SAN users can readily avail themselves of these advantages. As the storage industry migrates to 2 Gb/s speeds, users can confidently upgrade their SANs to new performance levels and choose products based upon their intrinsic value. Vixel endorses the SANmark Qualification Program and lauds the Fibre Channel Industry Association's work to make multivendor SANs a reality."

Vixel's 2 Gb/s 9000 Series Switches offer the highest data-throughput rates with full duplex speeds of up to 400 MB/s at each port. The 9000 series switches support up to 32 switches and 7 hops in multi-layer environments, offering the increased scalability needed for attaining new density levels in large switch meshes. Leveraging the inherent advantages of the architecture of its 7000 series switches, Vixel's new line of 2 Gb/s fabric switches are ideal for large switch meshes, cascading switch environments and joining islands of SANs.

About SANmark

The SANmark Qualified Program is sponsored, operated, and promoted as an open industry, conformance test suite development program, within the non-profit Fibre Channel Industry Association (FCIA). This program addresses product interoperability and device level compatibility for companies participating in the program. The program is open to members and non-members of the FCIA organization and is intended to benefit the entire storage networking industry at large. To get involved in the program or ask questions, please send an email to info@fibrechannel.org.

About the FCIA

The Fibre Channel Industry Association (FCIA) is an international organization of manufacturers, systems integrators, developers, system vendors, industry professionals, and end users. With more than 190 members and affiliates in the United States, Europe and Japan, the FCIA is committed to delivering a broad base of Fibre Channel infrastructure to support a wide array of industry applications within the mass storage and IT-based arenas. FCIA Working Groups focus on specific aspects of the technology that target both vertical and horizontal markets, including storage, video, networking and SAN Management. For information, please contact the Fibre Channel Industry Association at 415/750-8355 or via e-mail at info@fibrechannel.org, or visit the FCIA web site at http://www.fibrechannel.org.

About Vixel Corporation

Vixel Corporation offers customers real world solutions for storage networking. As a leading provider of Storage Area Network (SAN) solutions, the company's comprehensive portfolio of multivendor certified solutions, switches, hubs and integrated management software delivers reliable, interoperable solutions to its customers and partners. SAN InSite is Vixel's comprehensive open management software for SANs, providing remote control and diagnostics for Fibre Channel switches, hubs and transceivers from a single console, reducing the administration and overhead of implementing a SAN. Vixel products and technologies are used by major system suppliers including Avid Technologies, Compaq, Fujitsu Softek, IBM, Lucent, Network Appliance and Sun Microsystems. Products are available worldwide through its network of value-added resellers, alliances and OEMs. Vixel is an ISO 9001 certified company.

For more information, visit Vixel's web site at www.vixel.com. Vixel Corporation is headquartered at 11911 North Creek Parkway South, Bothell, Washington 98011 and can be contacted by phone at 425/806-5509 or e-mail at marketing@vixel.com.

Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include risks affecting performance and market acceptance of Vixel's products, Vixel's ability to meet its quality and performance standards, development of the storage area network, or SAN market, the competitiveness and performance of Vixel's products in the rapidly changing SAN market and the ability of Vixel to meet evolving product standards required by customers and others involved in the distribution channel for SAN products. Further information on the factors and risks that could affect Vixel's business, financial condition and results of operations, are contained in Vixel's Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Form 10-Q, which are available at www.sec.gov.