NetApp® FAS3070 Performance Exceeds EMC CX3-80 in OLTP Workload Test

Business Wire, Nov 7, 2006

The New NetApp Mid-Range System Outperforms EMC CLARiiON System in FC SAN Performance

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Today Network Appliance, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTAP) announced the results of a study from VeriTest[R], an independent testing service, that compared the usability and performance of the newly announced NetApp FAS3070 storage systems to the highest-capacity EMC CLARiiON system, the CX3-80. The VeriTest team analyzed how NetApp systems, leveraging RAID-DP[TM] (RAID 6) data protection software, deliver both superior FC SAN performance and superior data protection. The full VeriTest report is available online at www.lionbridge.com/lionbridge/en-US/services/outsourced-testing/compe titive-analysis/Netapp.htm.(Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)

The study used configurations that simulate workloads utilized in typical OLTP database environments containing a mixture of small random read and write requests. The VeriTest key findings show that:

-- NetApp Delivers Better Performance and Lower Latency
   In a 200-disk configuration, a NetApp FAS3070 system delivered 10%
   higher aggregate system performance and 8% lower average latency
   for an Oracle(R) OLTP FCSAN-based workload compared to an EMC
   CX3-80. The FAS3070 configuration for this test utilized NetApp
   RAID 6-based RAID-DP data protection software while the EMC system
   used single-parity RAID 5 data protection.

-- NetApp Is Faster for a Single Application
   Using a single 400GB LUN and an Oracle OLTP FCSAN -- based
   workload, the FAS3070 configured with RAID-DP generated 6.8 times
   the performance and 85% lower average latency compared to the
   CX3-80 when using RAID 1/0. After provisioning the same 400GB LUN
   on the CX3-80 using either a striped or concatenated MetaLUN, the
   FAS3070 configured with RAID-DP generated 1.95 times the
   performance and 49% lower average latency compared to the CX3-80.

-- NetApp Systems Enable Greater Responsiveness
   Using the Snapshot(TM) capability with the CX3-80 during
   performance testing resulted in a sustained, 50% drop in overall
   performance. VeriTest found no sustained degradation in overall
   performance as a result of using the Snapshot technology available
   on the FAS3070. Additionally, it took 27 minutes to clone a 400GB
   LUN on EMC CX3-80 and just 7 seconds on the NetApp FAS3070.

-- NetApp Systems Require Less Storage
   Provisioning an enterprise-class OLTP database on the CX3-80
   required 39% more physical disks compared to the FAS3070.
   Using NetApp FlexVol(TM) technology allowed the provisioning of an
   enterprise-class OLTP database using a total of 56 physical disks
   compared to 78 disks to provision the same database on the CX3-80.

All tests followed best practices as published by both NetApp and EMC for provisioning and deploying storage for use in production OLTP environments.

"Enterprise data centers require proven solutions that can simplify management, increase productivity, and offer the flexibility necessary to adapt to changing business needs without sacrificing performance or data access," said Patrick Rogers, vice president of Products and Partners at Network Appliance. "The VeriTest findings demonstrated that the NetApp FAS3070 storage solutions can provide enterprise customers with higher-performing storage solutions for data center business applications."

For more information on the newly announced FAS3070 and other data center software products that were announced today, please visit www.netapp.com/go/datacenterproven/pr/.> Technical Details

Technical details on NetApp FAS3070 systems are available at www.netapp.com/products.> NetApp Tech OnTap

More information about this and other NetApp offerings is available through the NetApp Tech OnTap program, which includes a monthly newsletter with real-world best practices, tips and tools, behind the scenes engineering interviews, and more. Sign up now at www.netapp.com/go/techontap.> About Network Appliance

Network Appliance is a world leader in unified storage solutions for today's data-intensive enterprise. Since its inception in 1992, Network Appliance has delivered technology, product, and partner firsts to simplify data management. Information about Network Appliance[TM] solutions and services is available at www.netapp.com.

NetApp and the Network Appliance logo are registered trademarks and Network Appliance, FlexVol, RAID-DP, and Snapshot are trademarks of Network Appliance Inc. in the U.S. and other countries.