Backup Consolidation With Capacity-on-Demand for All Server Classes: Fujitsu Siemens Computers and ADIC Offer Fastest and Most Flexible Library System on the Market

Business Wire, Sept 9, 2002

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

REDMOND, Wash. & MUNICH, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 9, 2002

Advanced Digital Information Corporation (Nasdaq:ADIC), leading supplier of Intelligent Storage solutions for the open system market, and Fujitsu Siemens Computers, leading European computer company, are expanding their long-standing OEM partnership to include a new, high performance tape library solution.

Starting immediately, Fujitsu Siemens Computers will offer ADIC's Scalar(R) 10K tape library through its worldwide sales channels. The decision was preceded by a successful pilot phase that included several on-site installations, one of them for a well-known German logistics company.

Flexible Backup Consolidation

The Scalar 10K is not only the fastest and most flexible library system currently on the market, but it is also the industry's first "capacity-on-demand" tape storage system, and the first library designed for data consolidation in storage area networks (SANs). With LTO drives, the library offers native capacity that ranges from 70 to 958 TB. The Scalar 10K also supports Super DLT and AIT technology in single- or mixed-media configurations. Integration of Magstar drive technology is also currently underway. The combination of the Scalar 10K and Fujitsu-Siemens' virtual archive solution, CentricStor, offers very powerful and flexible possibilities for backup consolidation across all server classes -- from mainframes through UNIX and Windows NT -- an important feature for enterprise networks.

Storage Capacity on Demand

The capacity-on-demand functionality of Scalar 10K offers expandable storage capacity that the user can activate incrementally and without any interruptions using a simple software key when additional storage is needed. Capacity-on-demand benefits investments in storage solutions even in high-growth environments because it allows the library to grow as quickly as the data volume on the user side. The user only pays for the capacity that is actually used. The integrated SAN support of Scalar 10K provides IT departments with data path conditioning, SAN security, error recovery and support of different fabrics, functions which dramatically improve the performance and reliability of data transfers in SAN environments.

"Unfortunately the value of solid data backup solutions often only becomes obvious in an emergency. This is why it is important to eliminate risk due to operating errors and storage network loss before a loss occurs. The automation of the backup-recovery processes is inevitable -- regardless of how large or distributed the IT systems are within a company," says Peter Jilek, Executive Vice President Enterprise Products at Fujitsu Siemens Computers. "Together with our partner ADIC, we can look back on a long, successful partnership in this area and can offer joint solutions that not only guarantee the highest degree of security for enterprise data but also provide long-term security for the investments our customers make in storage solutions."

"This agreement expands a long relationship between ADIC and FSC," said Bill Britts, ADIC Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "We are combining ADIC's intelligent libraries and storage management software from both companies with the systems expertise, consultative services, and ongoing support provided by Fujitsu-Siemens Computers. The result is the industry's most effective family of Enterprise-class data storage solutions for both backup and high capacity archiving."

Recent problems with lost or inadvertently deleted data show how necessary efficient data protection is for companies and government agencies alike. The amount of time and money spent on restoring lost data can be high and a threat to the mission of the affected institutions. Fujitsu Siemens Computers and ADIC have been working together to offer platform-independent systems for efficient and powerful backup and recovery solutions for organizations of every size. Supported solutions range from 7 to more than 50,000 cartridges to provide automated storage that leads the industry in performance, flexibility, and reliability, and that is compatible with all leading backup and archiving software. The reseller/OEM alliance also includes ADIC FastStor(R) autoloaders, Scalar 100 midrange tape libraries, Scalar 1000 data center libraries, and ADIC's AMASS(R) storage management software.

About Fujitsu-Siemens Computers:

Fujitsu Siemens Computers is the leading European computer company. Serving the needs of large corporations, small- to medium-sized enterprises and consumers the company operates in all key markets across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It offers a unique choice of world-class computer technology and innovative IT infrastructure solutions. Embedded in a global cooperation, Fujitsu Siemens Computers takes advantage of the strengths and the innovative power of its parent companies Fujitsu Limited and Siemens AG.

"Powering the Information Age" is the company's vision. Fujitsu Siemens Computers will enable people to freely access information and services anywhere and at any time with world-leading products, services and solutions, thus ensuring people's success within a knowledge-based society. The strategic direction is focused on Mobility and Business Critical Computing as the key drivers of the Information Age in the 21st century.