Market leaders Wasabi Systems, Bell Microproducts, AMD, AIC/ Xtore, Tyan and Western Digital team up to launch new high performance, reliable and affordable modular storage appliances.
STORAGE NETWORKING WORLD – SAN DIEGO, CA – April 4, 2006 – Wasabi Systems, Bell Microproducts, and Xtore, a wholly owned subsidiary of AIC, today introduced a modular IP-SAN appliance leveraging the iSCSI protocol that will be distributed by Bell Microproducts beginning in Q2 of 2006. The new products will be demonstrated at this week’s Storage Networking World (SNW) in both Wasabi’s Booth # PP11 and AIC / Xtore’s Booth # PP33.
The combined solution is the result of a collaborative effort by AMD, AIC/Xtore, Tyan, Western Digital (WD) and Wasabi. These platforms take advantage of the innovative technology offered by AMD64 processors and are the first network storage platforms based on Wasabi’s Storage Builder64™, a true 64-bit network storage software platform.
The Xtore Extreme Storage XI-104S-TAB-WB-1A is a 1U 4xSATA drive IP-SAN platform running Wasabi Storage Builder64 and is capable of providing up to 2TB of raw storage capacity. Systems will ship with the Wasabi storage software embedded on the motherboard. Customers may order the complete appliance, tested and ready for installation, from Bell Microproducts.
The Xtore Extreme Storage XI-212D-TAB-WB-1A is a 2U 12xSATA drive version with a raw storage capacity of up to 6TB. The system includes hot-swap redundant power supplies for high availability requirements.
“This is an exciting product series,” said Gene Lee, Vice President of AIC/Xtore. “We have worked closely with AMD, Tyan and Wasabi to put a state of the art product in the market at very aggressive price points. The idea is to offer an exciting, high performance technology in a quality product, and make it affordable to everyone.”
These platforms are based on AMD64 technology which offers customers industry-leading x86 application performance, cutting-edge processor architecture, and future-proofing with fully backward compatible 32- and 64-bit, multi-core computing.
“Storage is a growing market and AMD64 technology is especially well-suited to one of the key issues in storage computing – the rapid movement of data,” said David Rich, Director of 64-bit Embedded Markets at AMD. “This new platform is a very exciting AMD processor-based solution for small and medium sized businesses looking to implement an IP storage strategy. It can be a very cost-effective and efficient solution for smaller businesses that have multiple geographic branches.”
Bell Microsystems plans to distribute the products with initial availability in early Q2 of 2006.
“Bell Micro is pleased to be part of this product introduction,” said Joe Cousins, Vice President of Computer Products Marketing, “The timing is ideal for this specialized combination and we feel that our customer base will quickly respond to this.”
Wasabi Systems announced last week the release of Wasabi Storage Builder64, based upon Wasabi Certified™ BSD, a true 64-bit embedded network storage operating OS running on the AMD64 processor family. Wasabi Certified BSD enables 32- and 64-bit applications running side-by-side with no performance degradation while allowing unprecedented hardware scalability.
“This product delivers a high performance, robust, cost effective and reliable IP-SAN into the hands of smaller enterprises who previously could not afford it,” said Frank Logan, Wasabi’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “It has been a real pleasure working closely with AMD, AIC, Tyan and WD and we are very excited that Bell Micro is offering this product through their distribution network.”
Tyan is supplying the system boards for the new appliance series, featuring state-of-the- art platform designs based on AMD64 technology. Tyan offers exceptional platform performance at competitive price points.
“The move toward widespread usage of networked storage has opened incredible opportunities for iSCSI technology to deliver efficient storage solutions to the entry and mid-range segments,” stated John Nguyen, Worldwide Channel Marketing Manager at Tyan. “There is incredible value being offered to the VAR and Systems Integrator channels through the combined efforts of this group. Wasabi has been the leader in the iSCSI market and this technology has shown strong promise to change the networked storage marketscape as we know it.”
At SNW, the IP-SAN platforms will be demonstrated WB’s latest generation of enterprise-class SATA drives. Announced today, WD RAID Edition drives provide best-in-class performance, reliability and vibration tolerance. The modular IP-SAN appliance allows up to 2TB storage capacity in a 1U rack or 6TB storage capacity in a 2U format.
“WD’s RAID Edition drives are the perfect complement to the reliability, scalability and serviceability of this platform,” said Hubbert Smith, WD’s Director of Enterprise Marketing. “Working together, Wasabi, AMD, Tyan, AIC/Xtore and WD deliver one of the industry’s best IP-SAN appliances and Bell Microproducts’ integration and distribution capabilities provide an ideal channel to deliver this to customers worldwide.”
“ESG is seeing the rapid adoption of iSCSI and the momentum is really building,” said Tony Asaro, senior analyst for Enterprise Strategy Group. “We believe that iSCSI will become the dominant SAN interconnect for a number of reasons. However, it can only get there through cooperation and collaboration of vendors. This joint effort is an excellent example of this and the result is a low cost, high performance iSCSI storage system targeted at the mid-market.”
Pricing and Availability: The complete systems are slated to ship beginning this month. Each system is configurable to meet the requirements of individual VARs, OEMs and Integrators, including optional custom branding for volume purchasers. Typical MSRP is estimated to be $2,995 for the 1U, 4 drive XI-104S-TAB-WB-1A with 1TB and $5,995 for the 2U, 12 drive XI-212D-TAB-WB-1A with 3TB of raw capacity.
About AIC / Xtore Extreme Storage
Xtore is a leading manufacturer of white box and custom storage systems for the small to medium sized business, enterprise and OEM markets. With over a decade of experience designing and manufacturing end-to-end storage solutions, Xtore is an expert at providing customers with the storage technology they need, delivered 100% through solution providers, to achieve long-term business goals.
The company offers a wide variety of products, including network-attached storage (NAS) and direct-attached storage (DAS) systems, fully customizable white box storage enclosures and custom OEM solutions. Xtore is privately held and headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, with additional business centers in Taiwan, Japan and Europe. For more information, please visit www.xtore.com.
About Tyan Computer Corporation
Tyan Computer Corporation, founded in 1989 by Dr. T. Symon Chang, designs, manufactures and markets advanced x86 and x86-64 server/workstation board technology platforms and server solution products. Its products are sold to OEMs, VARs, System Integrators, and Resellers worldwide for a wide range of applications. Tyan enables its customers to be technology leaders by providing scalable, highly-integrated, reliable products for a wide range of applications such as server appliances and solutions for high-performance computing, and server/workstation usage in markets such as CAD, DCC, E&P, Bio-sciences and HPC.
Since its inception, Tyan has consistently been one of the fastest growing technology companies in the United States. Tyan was named to the prestigious INC 500 in 1997 and 1998 (the 19th fastest growing U.S. company in 1997). Tyan was also ranked by Deloitte & Touché as one of the USA’s “Fast 500″, as well as one of Silicon Valley’s “Fast 50″ companies in 1998. For more information, visit www.tyan.com.
About WD
WD, one of the storage industry’s pioneers and long-time leaders, provides products and services for people and organizations that collect, manage and use digital information. The company produces reliable, high-performance hard drives that keep users’ data close-at-hand and secure from loss.
WD was founded in 1970. The company’s storage products are marketed to leading systems manufacturers and selected resellers under the Western Digital and WD brand names. Visit the Investor section of www.westerndigital.com to access a variety of financial and investor information.
About Bell Microproducts Inc.
Bell Microproducts is an international, value-added provider of a wide range of high-technology products, solutions, and services to the industrial and commercial markets. The company’s offering includes semiconductors, computer platforms, peripherals, and storage products of various types including desktop, high-end computer and storage subsystems, fibre channel connectivity products, RAID, NAS and SAN storage systems, back-up products, storage management software, and extensive support, integration and installation services. Bell Microproducts is an industry-recognized specialist in storage products and is one of the world’s largest storage-centric value- added distributors.
The company’s products are available at any level of integration, from components to subsystem assemblies and fully-integrated, tested and certified system solutions. Bell Microproducts markets and distributes more than 125 brand name product lines, as well as its own Rorke Data and Hammer Storage brands, to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), contract electronic manufacturing services (EMS) customers, value-added resellers (VARs) and system integrators in the Americas and Europe. More information can be found in the company’s SEC filings, or by visiting www.bellmicro.com.
About Wasabi Systems
Wasabi Systems is changing the way network storage and embedded systems are developed and deployed. With its powerful series of software components and application programs, Wasabi enables low cost, ubiquitous, off-the-shelf PC server components that can be used in the creation of the most sophisticated network storage appliances.
In addition to developing open source code which Wasabi makes available under the GPL license, Wasabi also offers its own certified BSD-family operating system, Wasabi Certified™ BSD, and a full line of open source development tools.
Founded in May 2000, Wasabi’s investors include Intel Capital, Himalaya Capital, Hudson Ventures, and Newlight Associates. To learn more about Wasabi Systems, visit www.WasabiSystems.com, call 757.248.9601, or contact the Company’s headquarters at 500 E. Main Street, Suite 1520, Norfolk, VA 23510.
This press release is also available via Tyan (pdf format) and Xtore.
