ADIC and NETWORK APPLIANCE Certify SAN/NAS Data Protection Solution; Technology Partnership Provides Scalable Backup for Multiple Filers

Business Wire, Sept 5, 2001

Business/High Tech Editors

REDMOND, Wash. & SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 5, 2001

Advanced Digital Information Corporation (Nasdaq:ADIC) and Network Appliance (Nasdaq:NTAP) announced today the certification of ADIC(R) Scalar(R) 1000 model tape libraries for the Network Appliance(TM) FC Fabric Tape SAN Backup solution.

The certification enables end users to consolidate backup for multiple NetApp(R) filers to ADIC storage network-enabled libraries while simultaneously reducing data traffic on the LAN and operating loads on application servers. Certification ensures these highly scalable solutions integrate seamlessly to meet the growing data storage requirements of demanding enterprise environments.

"This certification adds a powerful combination of SAN and NAS technology for true state-of-the-art data protection," commented Bill Britts, ADIC executive vice president of Sales and Marketing. "Because corporate IT departments have come to depend on NetApp filers for a large percentage of their data, they need the most advanced data protection the industry can supply. Now these customers can leverage the power of ADIC libraries for SAN-based backup, higher levels of management consolidation, and more reliable data protection."

"This certification enables our expanding set of joint customers to rapidly deploy these leading storage solutions in their global network infrastructure," said Mark Santora, senior vice president of marketing at Network Appliance, Inc. "Teaming with industry leaders like ADIC ensures we are delivering fully interoperable solutions that provide robust storage networking support for enterprise backup and recovery. Like Network Appliance solutions, ADIC's highly scalable enterprise-class libraries are regularly deployed in a wide range of environments with exploding storage requirements."

The ADIC certification for the Network Appliance FC Fabric Tape SAN backup solution offers greater flexibility than conventional backup solutions by allowing multiple filers to access multiple-drive tape-based storage resources on the same storage area network. This combined solution can support up to 64 tape drives, 16 libraries, and 15 filers. Because all filers can access all tape devices in the SAN, the backup solution provides a structure that can support dynamic drive sharing by NDMP-enabled backup software applications. Initial software qualification includes VERITAS NetBackup and Legato Networker.

ADIC's Scalar series tape libraries provide highly scalable data protection for enterprise storage networks. Models range from 1 to over 600 drives and from 15 to over 15,000 data cartridges, with supported tape technologies that include AIT, DLT, SDLT, and LTO. Initial certification includes the Scalar 1000 libraries with DLT technology--certification for other models and technologies is currently underway. Scalar storage networking libraries offer the industry's first suite of integrated SAN management services. These include a built-in SAN firewall capability, integrated connectivity health-checks, and background utilities that improve the performance and reliability of backup operations. All ADIC FastStor(R), Scalar, and AML libraries also provide backup support for NetApp filers over SCSI connections.

About Network Appliance

Network Appliance, Inc., a leader in network file storage and content delivery, has been providing data access solutions since 1992, and is a member of both the S&P 500 and NASDAQ 100 index. Major corporations and service providers, including Lycos, Yahoo!, Citicorp Securities, Siemens, Lockheed, Cisco, Motorola, and Texas Instruments have deployed NetApp solutions.

The company pioneered the concept of the "network appliance," an extension of the industry trend toward dedicated, specialized products that perform a single function. NetApp storage and content delivery platforms (filers and NetCache(R) appliances) are coupled with powerful content distribution and reporting software. This Center-to-Edge(TM) solution offers seamless data management from the back-end data center to the edge of the network quickly, simply, and reliably. The Network Appliance product portfolio utilizes the company's innovative data access software, known as the Data ONTAP(TM) operating system, as well as standards-compliant hardware. It also offers multiprotocol support and transparent integration for UNIX(R) and Windows(R) environments. More information about Network Appliance is available at www.netapp.com.

About ADIC

Advanced Digital Information Corporation (Nasdaq:ADIC) is a leading storage solutions provider to the open systems marketplace, offering a broad range of Intelligent Storage(TM) products designed to enhance organizations' abilities to store, protect, manage and use their rapidly growing network data. ADIC products include technology-independent automated storage systems, specialized storage management software, and multiple-protocol storage networking (SAN/NAS) connectivity and management tools. ADIC storage products are available through a worldwide sales force and a global network of resellers and OEMs, including Dell, Fujitsu-Siemens and IBM. Further information about ADIC is available at www.adic.com.