Montilio's RapidFile Storage-to-LAN Gateway Delivers Three to Six Times the Performance of Conventional File Servers at 15-25 Percent the Price

Business Wire, May 25, 2005

CHICAGO -- Seamless Plug-in Card Provides 4 to 1 Server Consolidation While Preserving Transparency To Operating System And Legacy Applications; "A Straight Forward Solution Addressing an Immediate Problem"

Network administrators, IT managers and CIOs are always searching for ways to improve performance, integrate new products seamlessly and transparently with their current architecture and existing software, and consolidate resources.

In addition, value is measured not only by purchase price, but total cost of ownership (TCO), resources and time devoted to set up and the learning curve, and return on investment (ROI).

RapidFile(TM) from Montilio, Inc., addresses all these issues with its new storage to LAN gateway, a plug-in PCI card that fits into any server. By separating the data and control paths, RapidFile overcomes the performance bottlenecks of current file server architectures.

Performance of RapidFile is three to six times that of a comparable server configuration consisting of a single CPU as demonstrated by industry standard measurement tool, Iometer.

The MSRP of RapidFile is $3,899. A single CPU-based solution that includes the board and some memory is about $6,000; this is 15-25 percent the cost of a comparable high-end, multiple CPU file server or high-end NAS appliance.

"We believe that RapidFile is a classic example of a disruptive technology that has the potential to redefine the parameters of the file server market," wrote Arun Taneja, Taneja Group, in a January 2005 report. "Disruptive technologies with a compelling value proposition like RapidFile can directly impact end-user buying patterns and influence entire markets."

Applications are many and varied and basically include any user of NFS/CIFS that is looking to upgrade, consolidate servers or supplement their NAS architecture. RapidFile is well suited for high performance applications, or power users, in the areas of pharmaceutical, entertainment, biotech, oil and gas, financial services and large government agencies characterized by ongoing, fast and real time access of large data files. Users of midrange to high-end NAS and file servers will also find RapidFile's price/performance extremely compelling.

"RapidFile is a straight forward solution addressing an immediate problem," said John Webster, senior analyst, Data Mobility Group, Nashua, NH. "A common way of tackling performance bottlenecks is to add multiple servers or multiple processor systems. But this can be expensive in terms of immediate cash outlay and management, and the CAPEX increase is contrary to the corporate drive to consolidate servers."

RapidFile

RapidFile is a plug-in PCI-X card with the equivalent of a Fibre Channel HBA on board. It has two, gigabit Ethernet TOE ports connecting to the client network, and two, 2 Gigabit (QLogic) Fibre Channel ports that connect to the storage subsystem. Both replace existing interfaces normally used in servers.

RapidFile, with its patent pending technology FSRD(TM) (File Server Re-Director), offers a different approach based on data router technology. Rather than presenting conflicting requirements to the server memory subsystem, FSRD creates an alternate data path and redirects the data between the storage subsystem and the client network. This frees the server memory subsystem to cope more efficiently with much more control data. Data is transferred directly from storage to the network layer via RapidFile. As RapidFile is designed to bypass server memory and the PCI bus, all points of interference affecting performance are avoided. Data remains unchanged throughout all data transactions.

RapidFile adheres to industry and engineering standard interfaces and bus architectures so no extra resources are required to write drivers as they are included, and no extra hooks are necessary for the operating system or resident application software. Consolidation not expansion is now the norm.

"RapidFile brings the concept of control and data separation to the world of file servers, alleviating congestion while maximizing data transfer," stated by Michael Tsuk, CEO of Montilio. "In addition, there is no need for Fibre Channel HBA and TOE accelerator boards as the functionality of both is built in. We can truly claim to be redefining the term 'value proposition.'"

Pricing and availability

RapidFile is available now through resellers, with an MSRP of $3,899. RapidFile currently works with Linux (RH9, RHEL 3, and SLES 8 and SLES 9). A Windows port will be available in Q4 2005. UNIX version(s) will be available in the future.

About Montilio

Montilio, Inc., is redefining the term value proposition with RapidFile(TM), storage to LAN gateway for file server applications. RapidFile offers three to six times the performance of current alternatives at 15 to 25 percent the price. The company is privately held. Investors are Cedar Funds, Evergreen Venture Partners and Intel Capital. For more information visit www.montilio.com.