Storage: StorageTek and Brocade Strike Deal; StorageTek Becomes First Storage Supplier to Ship Fibre Channel Fabric Switch

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, July 13, 1998

StorageTek (Storage Technology Corp. and Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. Tuesday announced the completion of a global reseller agreement that makes StorageTek the first storage vendor to ship a Fibre Channel switch for building intelligent storage network fabrics.

Under the global agreement, StorageTek will immediately begin selling and supporting Brocade's 16-port SilkWorm Fibre Channel switch (the StorageNet Fibre Channel Switch 4000) as part of the StorageNet family of storage networking solutions. The product supports StorageTek's ongoing pursuit as the preeminent provider of network storage by delivering reliable access to information, regardless of the storage device or server platform. This relationship further establishes Brocade as the leading provider of Fibre Channel switches for active, intelligent, non-shared interconnects from single or clustered servers to multiple storage devices.

Fibre Channel is a high-speed, serial interconnect between servers and storage, and intelligent switches, such as the Brocade switch, make it ideal for mission-critical environments. Multiple switches can be cascaded together to support an unlimited number of servers and storage devices over a storage network fabric. This creates unprecedented storage networking solutions for the most demanding corporate customers.

A Fibre Channel switch also lets customers attach distinct, shared Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loops directly to the switch's ports. By using a Fibre Channel switch to create a true Server-Storage Area Network (SAN), users can separate tape libraries from disk subsystems on distinct loops. This provides full bandwidth performance to independent devices on the fabric enabling massive backups while simultaneously having full bandwidth access to other attached storage.

StorageTek's customers will benefit from the StorageNet Fibre Channel Switch 4000's exclusive, industry-first translative mode that lets fabric-attached servers access private loop drives, the most common form of disk product found on corporate networks. Additionally, by deploying switched Fibre Channel fabrics today, StorageTek customers will soon be able to interconnect any combination of mainframe, UNIX and Windows NT servers with storage devices.

"Brocade's intelligent Fibre Channel switch is ideal for StorageTek's high-end customers, where system reliability and fast connections are the order of the day," said Joan Wrabetz, vice president and general manager of StorageTek's Network Systems Group. "Deploying Fibre Channel SANs will instantly improve overall performance while preparing companies to take full advantage of native Fibre Channel devices as they continue to become available. This worldwide contract further advances StorageTek's industry position, providing us with at least a three- to six-month industry lead over our competition."

As part of StorageNet family, this switch also enables StorageTek to offer a breadth of network storage options ranging from bridges and hubs to switches, with assured interoperability and a single point of contact for purchase and support.

"StorageTek's industry leadership and data center experience positions it well as a worldwide channel for Brocade's SilkWorm switch," said Peter Tarrant, vice president of marketing and business development for Brocade. "Our switch technology alleviates the complexity and vulnerability of arbitrated loop configurations as well as future-proofing for further scalability, providing a very strong reason for end-users to implement a switched fabric for true enterprise-level computing."

StorageTek's StorageNet Fibre Channel Switch 4000 is available immediately. Priced at US$48,000 fully configured, the 16-port switch supports both copper and optical media.

StorageNet increases the value of data by enabling an industry-unique open storage utility. The StorageNet family is a complete set of storage area network (SAN) offerings, including: channel networking and extension products, SCSI and Fibre Channel interconnect products, and shared storage products. Aiding customers faced with the challenge of integrating legacy, UNIX and Windows NT environments, the StorageNet line leverages StorageTek's proven leadership and technological excellence to deliver comprehensive, best-of-breed storage networking solutions. All StorageNet products are fully tested for interoperability with StorageTek's tape libraries, SCSI and native Fibre Channel disk subsystems, and related SAN connectivity products, as well as all major open systems servers and storage devices.

StorageTek is the preeminent provider of network storage. The company's products and services are used to store, transport and secure more than 100 petabytes of the world's information, ranging from mainframe data to client/server applications to video, audio and still images. The company, based in Louisville, Colo., reported earnings of $232 million on revenue of $2.1 billion in 1997. Information is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.storagetek.com or phone StorageTek at (1-800-STORTEK).