8/21/95 News Release --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adaptec Introduces High-performance PCI RAID Solution for Entry-level and Mid-range LAN Servers Wide SCSI adapter features first PCI-to-PCI bridge design and establishes new price/performance point for RAID solutions Milpitas, Calif., - August 21, 1995 - Adaptec (NASDAQ:ADPT), a leader in input/output (I/O) technology, extended its Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disk (RAID) family with the introduction of the AHA(r)-3985W MultiChannel (RAID adapter kit that provides connectivity for today's standard 8-bit and 16-bit Fast and Wide SCSI devices. Adaptec's Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) kit includes support of RAID levels 0, 1, 0/1, 5 and incorporates a PCI-to-PCI bridge design for a suggested retail price of $849. Adaptec's approach to RAID technology provides performance benefits normally available only in microprocessor-based array controllers that retail for more than $2,000. The Adaptec PCI RAID adapter's PCI-to-PCI bridge design allows multiple high-speed PCI devices to operate on a dedicated, on-board PCI bus capable of transfer rates up to 133 Mbytes/second. Adaptec has also incorporated a dedicated RAID RISC-based coprocessor that offloads the server host processor, such as a Pentium(r) (P54C90) CPU, by up to 15%. The AHA-3985W includes software operating system support for Novell NetWare(r) 3.11, 3.12 and 4.XX operating systems. With three fully-independent RISC-based PCI-to-SCSI channels, users can connect up to 45 disk and non-disk peripherals. [Editor's note: Adaptec announced the AHA(r)-3985, a Fast SCSI-2 PCI RAID adapter in January 1995.] "Today's distributed computing environments require continuous data availability and reliability, and RAID is a critical solution to managing data storage," said John Hamm, vice president and general manager of Adaptec's Enterprise Computing Group. "RAID is a substantial market opportunity for Adaptec, and our technology will establish a unique price/performance point in PCI RAID. The AHA-3985W fills the gap between performance-limiting RAID software solutions and high-priced microprocessor-based array controllers." PCI-to-PCI Bridge Multiprocessing Architecture for RAID During the last year, Adaptec led an industry effort to raise awareness and make PCI-to-PCI bridge support standard on most PCs and servers by working with systems and basic input/output systems (BIOS) companies. Adaptec's PCI-to-PCI bridge support technology provides significant performance and expansion benefits in multichannel SCSI environments. With the PCI-to-PCI bridge design, overall server performance can be increased through better distribution of bus traffic by offloading processing to an onboard secondary PCI bus. A PCI-to-PCI bridge can be defined as a bus translator, or "extender," that allows several PCI devices to be connected to a single PCI slot in a system without degrading the signal quality and performance. "Multiprocessing RAID architectures are enhanced when a PCI-to-PCI bridge design is utilized, and the cost of RAID is significantly reduced," said Roger Cox, manager of disk array marketing in Adaptec's Enterprise Computing business unit. "In recent standard benchmarking tests measuring random and sequential read and write transactions, our RAID solution achieved 24% overall improved performance over certain microprocessor-based array controllers in entry-level environments**. For RAID 5 parity calculations, the dedicated RISC-based coprocessor handles the functions for the host, freeing the server for other tasks. Another feature of the multiprocessing architecture is SCSI command chaining. This advanced architectural feature automates the processing of multiple I/O commands without host system involvement. This reduces host system interrupts and I/O bus traffic to increase overall data throughput. Additional Tools for LAN Managers Two important features of Adaptec's PCI RAID adapter kit critical to LAN and system managers are RAID utilities and Adaptec's CI/O(r) software. Adaptec's CI/O software allows administrators to quickly and remotely diagnose problems, and manage and profile performance of disk arrays and other SCSI devices from any Windows(r)-based client. ** see Testing conditions and equipment (below) Additional key operating features of the AHA-3985W PCI RAID adapter kit include hot-swap drive support, which is the ability to perform on-the-fly disk replacement. Hot spare drive support and array status reporting is also included. Typical users of Adaptec's RAID systems include LAN system managers and IS managers that operate Pentium and multiprocessor servers with up to 50 users and utilize from two to 20 gigabytes of storage capacity. These managers are typically concerned with real-time data recovery beyond tape backup, and ensuring continuous data access for the entire network. Pricing and Availability Adaptec's AHA-3985W PCI RAID adapter kit includes the following: * A three-channel PCI-SCSI RAID adapter * RAID utility software and NetWare drivers (versions 3.11, 3.12, 4.XX) * Adaptec CI/O and drivers * Two internal SCSI cables with active termination * Complete hardware and software documentation The AHA-3985W PCI RAID adapter kit has a suggested retail price of $849 and will be available in September 1995 from Adaptec's worldwide distributor network. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Testing conditions and equipment used in benchmarking tests * Ziff-Davis' NetBench(r) version 3.01 with test suite consisting of Disk Mix tests for 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 clients. [GDW1] File Server Specifications File Server: Intel Plato Motherboard, BIOS 0.01.20.AX1 Processor Type: Intel Pentium Number of Processors: 1 Processor Speed: 90 MHz Clock Speed: 90 MHz System RAM: 32 MB Secondary RAM Cache: 256 KB Hardware Hard Disk Cache: N/A Number of Hard Disk Controllers: 1 Type of Hard Disk Controllers: Adaptec AHA-3985 Type of I/O Bus: PCI Number of Hard Disks: 4 Type of Hard Disks: Seagate ST32550N Hard Disk Sizes: 2 GB Controller Driver Version: 1.01 Disk Organization: RAID 5 Boot Channel Drive Controller: AHA-1542, ISA System Boot Drive: Maxtor MXT-540S Number of Network Controllers: 1 Type of Network Controllers: Cogent eMaster+ PCI Quartet Driver Version of Network Controllers: 1.01 Network Operating System: Novell NetWare Network Operating System Version: 3.12 Network Operating System Parameters: Disk Read After Write = Off Immediate Purge of Deleted Files = On Enable IPX Checksums = 1 Client Specifications Network Type: 10Base-T, Ethernet Number of Clients: 20 Number of Concentrators: 4 Type of Concentrators: Accton Etherhub-8mini Number of Clients per Segment: 5 Client CPU type: Intel 486 Client CPU Speed: 33 MHz Client Network Software: MSDOS 6.0, IPX/SPX 3.10, NETX 3.32 Size of Client Network Cache: N/A Controller Specifications Controller Operating System: MSDOS 6.22, Windows for Workgroups 3.11 Network Software: LSL 2.14, NE2000 2.02, IPX/SPX 3.01, VLM 1.20 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adaptec, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADPT) designs, manufactures and markets IOware(r) solutions to eliminate performance bottlenecks between microcomputers, networks, and peripherals. Solutions range from simple connectivity products for single-user and small-office desktops, to intelligent subsystem, high-performance SCSI, RAID and ATM products for enterprise-wide computing and networked environments. Adaptec I/O solutions are incorporated into the products of virtually all the major computer and peripheral manufacturers around the world. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Milpitas, Calif., Adaptec is a recognized market leader in high-performance I/O technology. Adaptec currently employs approximately 1,800 people, and with its global distribution network, serves customers worldwide. Adaptec's World Wide Web home page address is http://www.adaptec.com. Adaptec, CI/O, IOware, AHA are trademarks of Adaptec, Inc., which may be registered in some jurisdictions. All other trademarks used are owned by their respective owners. PN: W850108-011