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New Hitachi HiCommand Software First to Offer Integrated Storage Multipath Management

Posted on: Monday, 3 April 2006, 09:00 CDT

Hitachi Data Systems (NYSE:HIT):

-- Provides Administrators a Multi-Host Storage Path Management Console; Enables Consistent Procedures; Ensures 24/7 Data Availability

-- HiCommand Suite V5.0's Superior Interface Design Brings Elegance and Simplicity to Storage Management for Virtualized Environments

Hitachi Data Systems, provider of Application Optimized Storage(TM) solutions and a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT), today introduced breakthrough software innovations that simplify the management and monitoring of multipath data connections, eliminate painful labor-intensive tasks from the daily lives of storage administrators worldwide, and enhance data availability.

With today's business applications requiring 24/7 access to data, many companies implement redundant data paths with automatic failover between servers and storage systems. Up to now, existing path management offerings necessitate that storage administrators responsible for multiple host-storage system paths manually and painfully make each and every management change, server by server. The introduction of the HiCommand(R) Suite Version 5.0, featuring the new HiCommand Global Link Availability Manager software, solves this critical business issue by consolidating -- under a single, integrated console -- the management and monitoring of multipath data connections between hosts and storage systems. With this software, storage administrators can manage a nearly unlimited number of separate instances of HiCommand Dynamic Link Manager, Hitachi's multipathing software.

In addition, the HiCommand Suite Version 5.0 features a brand new intuitive, integrated user interface, based on extensive human factors research with storage administrators around the globe.

All-New Hitachi HiCommand Global Link Availability Manager

HiCommand Global Link Availability Manager software eliminates many of the severe operational headaches associated with multipath data management. Hitachi delivers the only solution on the market today to manage many server-to-storage system data paths from a single management console, and simplifies overall storage maintenance activities, while at the same time enhancing data availability. Hitachi HiCommand Global Link Availability Manager makes it easier to make adjustments that will eliminate input/output (I/O) bottlenecks and keeps administrators informed real-time on the status of all their multiple paths in any heterogeneous storage environment.

No competitive offering provides the ability to:

-- Provide integrated single-point configuration and management of multipath SAN paths for not just one -- but multiple servers

-- From a centralized management console, track SLA multipath requirements

-- Manage comprehensive storage network path optimization in addition to single path optimization

-- Perform dynamic path monitoring, checking and alerting for complex, large, multipathed SAN configurations

-- Increase administrator efficiencies and eliminate configuration errors

"Storage administrators are looking for ways to reduce complexity, integrate management processes, and consolidate as needed," said John Webster, senior analyst and founder, Data Mobility Group. "Hitachi's new software offering can ease the lives of storage administrators by giving them a common management tool to work with, thereby significantly decreasing the time they spend managing multipathing on separate hosts."

Hitachi HiCommand Suite Version 5.0: Superior Interface Design Brings Elegance and Simplicity to Virtualized Environments

The Hitachi HiCommand Suite Version 5.0 features a brand new, completely redesigned, integrated user interface, based on extensive end-user research and interactive testing. The new design will ease the learning curve for storage administrators, and enable a more productive storage management environment across all Hitachi storage systems -- and other branded storage systems, when utilizing the Universal Virtualization Layer in the Hitachi TagmaStore(TM) Universal Storage Platform or Network Storage Controller -- from the smallest midrange solution to multi-petabyte enterprise environments.

The newly enhanced HiCommand graphical user interface features:

-- Improved high-quality visual impression

-- Shared toolbar for all HiCommand Suite software modules

-- Significantly improved readability: sophisticated use of space, color, and type

-- Common metaphors throughout HiCommand Suite software modules

-- Consistent layouts and patterns

-- Bringing often needed data and tasks up front

"Storage growth is far outpacing headcount within IT organizations," said John McArthur, group vice president and general manager, Information Infrastructure and Enabling Technologies, IDC. "Consolidation and virtualization are best practices which enable IT professionals to more cost-effectively support growth and control management costs. But management tools, such as Hitachi Data Systems' HiCommand Suite, are absolutely critical for obtaining maximum benefit from consolidated, virtualized environments."

"The new HiCommand Suite user interface will simplify management within the increasing number of virtualized tiered storage environments our clients are deploying," said Jack Domme, senior vice president, Global Solutions Strategy and Development, Hitachi Data Systems. "The advantage for Hitachi customers is that our software allows for a modular implementation, one that can be optimized for the unique requirements of their business applications. That means IT managers can pick and choose the modules that best fit the performance, cost, and power required for individual business needs, as well as deliver managed quality-of-storage-service to individual applications."

HiCommand Suite Version 5.0 also includes key enhancements to HiCommand Tiered Storage Manager, which enables customers to make more intelligent decisions about data migration based on performance information. HiCommand Tiered Storage Manager Version 5.0 monitors average and maximum array group usage and can relocate an application to fit a change in performance requirements. The newly enhanced software is also ideal in helping IT managers with volume migration by providing clear and precise data on the number of volumes that need migration and which volumes are available in a given storage tier.

The HiCommand Suite is a critical component of Application Optimized Storage(TM) solutions from Hitachi Data Systems, launched in May 2004. These solutions enable customers to precisely match business application requirements to storage system attributes -- such as cost, performance, and data protection. Unlike other storage-centric management tools, Hitachi storage management solutions provide application-centric, end-to-end mapping from the application to the disk, with centralized, integrated monitoring and management of multiple heterogeneous hosts, SANs, applications and storage systems.

For additional information on the enhanced Hitachi HiCommand Suite, please visit: http://www.hds.com/products_services/storage_mgmt_software/storage_ area_management/ (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.)

About Hitachi Data Systems

Hitachi Data Systems leverages global R&D resources to develop storage solutions built on industry-leading technology with the performance, availability and scalability to maximize customers' ROI and minimize their risk. By focusing on the customer's perspective as we apply the best hardware, software, and services from Hitachi and our partners, we uniquely satisfy our customers' business needs.

With approximately 2,900 employees, Hitachi Data Systems conducts business through direct and indirect channels in the public, government and private sectors in over 170 countries and regions. Its customers include more than 50 percent of Fortune 100 companies. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.hds.com.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE:HIT), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 347,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2004 (ended March 31, 2005) consolidated sales totaled 9,027.0 billion yen ($84.4 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's Website at http://www.hitachi.com.

(C) 2006, Hitachi Data Systems Corporation. Hitachi Data Systems is registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a trademark and service mark of Hitachi, Ltd. TagmaStore is a trademark of Hitachi Data Systems Corporation. All other trade names, trademarks, and service marks used herein are the rightful property of their respective owners.

Source: Business Wire

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