EqualLogic Selected by the Department of Defense for IP Storage Networks; Storage Integrator SANZ Installs a 28 Terabyte IP SAN with EqualLogic PeerStorage Arrays

Business Wire, May 18, 2004

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

NASHUA, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 2004

EqualLogic(R), Inc., a leading provider of iSCSI-based, self-managing networked storage solutions announces the implementation of storage area networks (SANs) for the Department of Defense (DoD). The DoD intelligence organizations, which cannot be named for security reasons, are using EqualLogic's PeerStorage(TM) array solutions to create IP-based SANs in heterogeneous environments requiring enterprise-class reliability and full-featured management capabilities.

Current DoD SAN deployments are limited by the complexity and cost of Fibre Channel, and premier storage integrator SANZ was asked to implement a new, cost-effective and highly available IP SAN solution for a host of Sun Solaris-based and Microsoft Windows-based servers. EqualLogic's Peer Storage Array 100E was selected over the EMC CLARiiON system as the core building block of the SAN, because it is the only IP SAN solution to meet the DoD's requirement for high redundancy, automatic management, data protection, and support for a wide range of operating systems.

"The DoD implementation was an excellent opportunity to align ourselves with the innovative SAN technology from EqualLogic," said Michael Phelan, president of SANZ. "EqualLogic's approach complements our focus on delivering flexible, cost-effective storage solutions that feature high performance, intelligence and reliability. Together we are filling a large need in the government market for a fresh approach to flexible, scalable and manageable SANs."

EqualLogic is the only IP SAN solution provider to offer a comprehensive and fully integrated standard feature set at no additional cost to the customer. Each PeerStorage Array 100E supports up to 14, 250-gigabyte disk drives for 3.5 terabytes of storage capacity, comes with fully redundant fault-tolerant hardware and includes full-featured automatic storage-management software. Up to 32 arrays can be combined to form a scalable enterprise storage grid of more than 100 terabytes. The PeerStorage array has achieved Sun Solaris Ready Certification and Sun Blade Server Verification, has earned the Microsoft Designed for Windows Logo qualification for iSCSI devices and has completed Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition qualification testing as an iSCSI target.

"Our work with SANZ was instrumental to the success of our DoD deployment. SANZ's selection of the PeerStorage array to meet the DoD's requirements underscores the demand for full-featured, flexible SAN solutions that cost-effectively eliminate traditional storage headaches," said John Joseph, vice president of marketing at EqualLogic. "Together with SANZ, we will expand on this contract and pursue other sales opportunities in government environments."

About EqualLogic

PeerStorage(TM) solutions from EqualLogic(R), Inc. deliver the benefits of consolidated storage in a modular, self-managing, IP-based storage area network that is affordable and easy to use, regardless of scale. By eliminating complex tasks and enabling fast and flexible storage provisioning, PeerStorage solutions dramatically reduce acquisition and ongoing operational costs and make enterprise class shared block storage practical for the mid-range storage market. EqualLogic is based in Nashua, NH. For more information visit http://www.equallogic.com/ or http://www.peerstorage.com/

EqualLogic and PeerStorage are trademarks or registered trademarks of EqualLogic, Inc. Other marks belong to their respective owners.