ATTO Technology Enhances Ease-of-Use and Customer Experience for iSCSI Solutions

New Features Simplify Configuration and Management of iSCSI Storage Networks

Aug 28, 2007

Amherst, NY (August 28, 2007) — ATTO Technology, Inc., a global leader of storage connectivity and infrastructure solutions for data-intensive computing environments, announced today that it is releasing firmware version 4.0 for its iPBridge™ product line. ATTO's iPBridge product line provides a simple, time-saving and cost-effective solution for adding Internet SCSI (iSCSI) connectivity to both SCSI and Fibre Channel storage. Additionally, ATTO iPBridges offer features that provide for enhanced management and configuration of storage devices behind the bridge, further simplifying the implementation of an iSCSI network. The iSCSI protocol allows users to take advantage of existing Ethernet expertise and equipment while reaping the benefits of Storage Area Networks (SANs) and avoiding the cost and complexity associated with Fibre Channel. iSCSI and iPBridges are important enablers for applications including remote backups, laptop connectivity to SANs and collaborative digital video/audio workflows.

ATTO iPBridge firmware version 4.0 provides new features which aid users with configuration and management of iSCSI SANs, including iPBridges and any attached storage. These features include:

ExpressWizard Configuration – ATTO's new ExpressWizard functionality in iPBridges asks users a series of simple questions, and automatically configures the bridge to operate as efficiently as possible in the specified environment. This helps users ensure that their bridge is properly configured to receive the maximum amount of performance possible from the bridge and any attached storage.
ExpressFairness (iPBridge 2700 only) – The ATTO ExpressFairness feature allows the iPBridge to optimize data transfers when a large number of hosts are connected to an iPBridge. This allows for ATTO iPBridges to smooth data-streaming and ensures users will reap the benefits of maximized performance by guaranteeing a fair amount of bandwidth to each user.
Improved Product CD – In conjunction with this firmware release, ATTO will also provide redesigned product CDs that ship with ATTO iPBridges. The iPBridge product CDs, which contain valuable data such as firmware, utilities, manuals, and drivers, will utilize a newly designed graphical user interface (GUI) to provide users with an elegant and simple solution for accessing tools that enhance functionality and performance of ATTO iPBridges.

“ATTO has been developing iSCSI bridges for over 5 years, and is committed to continued development of new features for its iPBridge product line,” states Tom Kolniak, director of products for ATTO Technology Inc. “As the iSCSI protocol continues to see its adoption rate increase, ATTO is poised to provide users with simple and effective solutions to maximize the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of the protocol. ATTO has a wealth of expertise and knowledge with regards to iSCSI, and the release of iPBridge firmware version 4.0 leverages that history to provide users with the most feature-rich and easy-to-use iSCSI bridges available on the market today.”

In addition to its line of iPBridges that offer iSCSI connectivity to both Fibre Channel and SCSI devices, ATTO also offers Xtend SAN iSCSI Initiator for Mac OS X. When Xtend SAN is combined with ATTO iPBridges, SCSI and Fibre Channel storage devices are transformed into iSCSI-enabled devices that Mac® OS X users can access via their Gigabit Ethernet port. This allows Mac OS X users to fully realize the benefits of iSCSI SANs.

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