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Network Appliance Enhances Enterprise gFiler Storage Systems, Bringing Dynamic Storage Virtualization to SANs

Posted on: Monday, 15 November 2004, 09:00 CST

NetApp(R) gFiler(TM) Systems Consolidate NAS and SAN Data Access, Expand Support to HP XP-series Plus IBM DS4000 Array Systems

Network Appliance, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTAP) today announced that the NetApp enterprise gFiler storage systems now provide Fibre Channel data access, and fully leverage the new enterprise storage virtualization capabilities in Data ONTAP(TM) 7G (announced in a separate press release today) for multi-vendor storage environments. The NetApp gFiler solution has extended its storage systems support to include the HP(R) StorageWorks XP Disk Array family and the IBM(R) TotalStorage DS4000 series (formerly named "FAStT"), complementing existing support for Hitachi Data Systems(R), Hitachi Limited(R), Sun(R) StorEdge(R) 9900 Disk Array family, and IBM Enterprise Storage Server disk array systems. NetApp gFiler therefore expands the range of applications and user needs it can manage with the industry's most robust, multiprotocol, multivendor, dynamic storage virtualization products.

"The NetApp gFiler provides a common management infrastructure for disparate storage systems and handles heterogeneous storage provisioning and replication with ease," said Stephanie Balaouras at Yankee Group. "The NetApp gFiler also provides advanced data management capabilities to utilize, consolidate, protect, and recover mission-critical and tier one business data. For multi-vendor grid environments, the new NetApp gFiler is a compelling solution."

"We are offering even more customers the opportunity to experience the simplified data management provided by NetApp gFiler," said Paul Albright, senior vice president of Marketing at NetApp. "At the same time, we're broadening our own potential market footprint by supplying a 'dynamic virtualization engine' that can manage and virtualize storage resources from a wide variety of third-party vendors representing a lion's share of the total storage market. Powered by new features and benefits of Data ONTAP 7G, gFiler is poised to become the industry's preferred gateway solution."

NetApp gFiler is a special-purpose, highly optimized multiprotocol storage appliance that seamlessly integrates into Fibre Channel SAN fabrics, enabling customers to leverage NetApp high-performance and scalable data management solutions, consolidating disparate DAS, NAS, and SAN islands into a common open storage pool. In multiprotocol data access, NetApp gFiler enables affordable, cost-effective storage consolidation; provides data accessibility and recoverability to a broader range of existing and new applications; and helps today's business share its valuable data across wider corporate networks.

NetApp announced its first gFiler storage partnership with Hitachi Data Systems in December 2002 and in April 2003 began shipping the solution for HDS storage arrays and the Sun StorEdge 9900 series. In December 2003 NetApp added support for Hitachi Limited and high-end IBM storage system platforms to its list of supported arrays.

The new gFiler solution for IBM and HP storage systems, along with previously supported IBM and Hitachi Limited systems, will be sold by NetApp through its direct sales and channel partners.

For more information on the NetApp gFiler series, please visit http://netapp.com/products/gateway/gfiler.html.

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 that continue to drive "The evolution of storage.(TM)" Information about Network Appliance(TM) solutions and services is available at www.netapp.com.

NetApp is a registered trademark and Network Appliance, gFiler, Data ONTAP, and The evolution of storage are trademarks of Network Appliance, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. IBM is a trademark of IBM Corporation. Sun and StorEdge are registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. Hitachi Data Systems and Hitachi Limited are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as trademarks of Hitachi, Ltd. All other brands or products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders and should be treated as such.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The statement regarding future industry preferences on gateway solutions is a forward-looking statement within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include any statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of Network Appliance Inc. that involves risks or uncertainties. In evaluating these statements readers should specifically consider various factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated, including without limitation, customer demand for products and services, customer acceptance of product architectures, increased competition, and other important factors as described in Network Appliance Inc. reports and documents filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recently submitted 10-K and 10-Q.

Source: Business Wire

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