Product Watch: MUSE Announces New Features In Software. Unigraphics’ Parasolid Supports AMD Chip. Exabyte Unveils 430 Tape Library.

July 21, 2000

SHORT TAKES

AUSPEX WRITES BOOK ON STORAGE ARCHITECTURE TRENDS

Santa Clara, CA — Auspex Systems, a technology leader in Network Attached Storage (NAS) solutions, is offering a just-published book addressing the differences and similarities of Direct Area Storage (DAS), Network Attached Storage (NAS), and Storage Area Network (SAN). The 40+ page, illustrated, “Storage Architecture Guide” is available directly from Auspex Systems. “The Storage Architecture Guide is required reading for anyone interested in understanding today’s storage architectures,” said David Vellante, respected storage industry analyst and president of ITcentrix, Inc. ( http://www.itcentrix.com ) a Still River, MA-based Internet software company. “It provides a consistent framework for evaluating DAS, NAS and SAN and contains very current not previously published information. I found the Storage Architecture Guide to be informative, technically correct and cogently written.”

The Guide may be read two ways, briefly scanned for quick subject overviews or read for the extensive discussions of topics listed above. It includes 26 color illustrations and several fact-filled comparison charts allowing a quick understanding of key storage architecture application issues affecting availability, performance, UNIX and NT data sharing, manageability and cost. Visit http://www.auspex.com for more information.

MUSE ANNOUNCES NEW FEATURES IN SOFTWARE

Albuquerque, N.M. — MUSE Technologies, Inc., a leader in data visualization software and solutions, has announced several new features to its award-winning MuSE 2000 (Multi-dimensional user-oriented Synthetic Environment) software development system. MuSE 2000 Version 2.2 now provides full support for the Windows 2000 operating system in addition to the previously supported Windows NT4 platform. MuSE has also been upgraded to support multi-pipe graphics cards on PC-based systems to present 3D and immersive graphics on multi-screen displays. Dynamic head-tracked perspective correction is also provided, which enables Windows-based MuSE software applications to be easily and automatically deployed in large-scale theatres, immersive rooms and on multi-monitor desktop configurations. In addition, multiple graphics cards (configured to work together as a single logical wide or panoramic screen) are now supported on HP-UX, SGI and Sun Solaris platforms.

Users of Single Logical Screen (SLS) on HP-UX, of Multi-Channel Option (MCO) or DPLEX on SGI IRIX, of Xinerama (or multi-display support) on Sun Solaris, and of Multiple Monitor Support (MMS) on Windows NT and Windows 2000 can now share the same MuSE-based applications (either independently or collaboratively) across a wide variety of display systems, including immersive room and workbench-style products from vendors such as Panoram Technologies, FakeSpace Systems, TAN, Barco and MechDyne. According to Craig Peterson, Vice President of Technology for MUSE Technologies, “These new features of MuSE 2000 will enable users of our software to efficiently take full advantage of the latest multi-pipe technology that is influencing both theatre and desktop data visualization. Continuing advances in display technology are empowering all types of corporate, engineering and research users to interact with data in new and innovative ways, and we are focused on providing these users with as many presentation and interaction options as possible.” For additional information visit http://www.musetech.com/siggraph .

UNIGRAPHICS’ PARASOLID SUPPORTS AMD CHIP

St. Louis, MO — Unigraphics Solutions Inc. announces that its industry-leading kernel solid modeler, Parasolid, has added the AMD Athlon processor family to its list of supported hardware platforms. Starting with Version 12.0, Parasolid will provide full support for the X86 instruction set running on both the Intel Pentium family and the AMD Athlon processor family. As part of this support, some members of both the Parasolid development and quality assurance teams are using AMD Athlon processors.

“AMD and UGS have worked hand-in-hand to develop leading visual computing solutions that enhance the performance and productivity for CAD/CAM/CAE users,” says Ned Finkle, director of the Infrastructure Enablement Group at AMD. “That trend continues with the introduction of the latest Parasolid product. The AMD Athlon processor will provide Parasolid with the power necessary for high-performance modeling of incredibly complex designs.” “Solid Edge customers benefit from wider choices in hardware offerings and we applaud the Parasolid support for the Athlon processor,” says Dave Primrose, Solid Edge marketing director. “Many of our customers already use Athlon and we plan to officially certify it for Solid Edge. Making Solid Edge users more productive is our primary focus.” “SolidWorks is delighted that Parasolid has extended its support to the Athlon processor,” says Dave Corcoran, vice president of R&D for SolidWorks. “This extends our customers’ choices, giving them additional options when looking for the best price/performance to get their job done.” Visit http://www.ugsolutions.com for more information.

EXABYTE UNVEILS 430 TAPE LIBRARY

Boulder, COLO. — Exabyte Corporation, a performance leader in network backup systems, announced the Exabyte 430 tape library. This feature-rich library design is engineered to be the most compact automation product available. The initial version utilizes the Mammoth-2 (M2) tape drive to provide the best tape performance, capacity, rack-density and reliability available today. With an anticipated list price of $20,000, Exabyte’s the 430 library with a M2 tape drive provides users with network backup capability at $4 per GB. Engineered for network backup/restore, remote storage and automated archiving for mission critical data, the 430 with M2 can store up to 1.8 TB (uncompressed) of data in 10 hours without operator intervention. The library occupies just two cubic feet of space and five units of rack height in order to maximize the use of valuable data center space. The feature-rich library is complete with data management capabilities such as Ethernet connectivity, Exabyte Library Monitoring software, barcode and pluggable SCSI and Fibre Channel interfaces. Designed for midrange departmental and workgroup environments, general availability for the 430 is expected in August 2000.

“The 430 is a first-class addition to the M2 tape library family, offering customers a compact high-performance tape library that is built to the storage requirements of today’s data-intensive networking environments,” said Peri Grover, marketing manager for tape libraries at Exabyte. “Compared to other products in its class, the 430 has a higher rack density, which is important to customers who must achieve optimal storage space for minimal cost in their data centers. Early evaluation units have already received rave reviews from end users, OEMs and software partners.” “Computer Associates ARCserve 2000 in combination with the Exabyte 430 Tape Library offers our mutual clients the premier eBusiness storage solution,” said Michael LaTorraca, vice president, development partner programs, Computer Associates International Inc. “By delivering superior performance, reliability and investment protection, ARCserve 2000 extends the already rich features and benefits of the Exabyte 430. We are delighted to bring this business value to clients.” Visit http://www.exabyte.com and http://www.m2wins.com for more information.

VERITAS SOFTWARE UNVEILS DATA MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

Mountain View, CA — VERITAS Software Corporation, the data availability company, announced details of the first phase of the VERITAS Exchange Initiative, a multi-phased program focusing on key areas of data management: backup/recovery, replication, disk management and SAN management. The initiative is intended to leverage the strengths of VERITAS Software’s core competencies in the Windows NT and Windows 2000 industry, and provide customers with superior solutions for Microsoft Exchange environments. In phase one, VERITAS Software is bundling VERITAS Backup Exec for Windows NT and Windows 2000 with VERITAS Remote Storage for Microsoft Exchange – a unique space-management solution designed to fulfill the increasing end-user demand for additional mailbox space. Branded the VERITAS Exchange Protection Suite for Workgroups, this bundle is the first complete data protection and Microsoft Exchange management solution to be offered to the growing Microsoft Exchange market.

“As Microsoft introduces its road map for application service providers (ASP), it is pleased to see VERITAS Software, a leading third-party vendor, demonstrate its support with the release of a comprehensive solution that caters to the increasing demands placed on Microsoft Exchange environments,” said Dwight Krossa, marketing director at Microsoft Corp. “Having worked closely with VERITAS Software over the years, Microsoft can attest to VERITAS’ commitment to mutual Windows NT and Windows 2000 customers and is excited that VERITAS Software is now extending its expertise to the Exchange arena.” The VERITAS Exchange Initiative is part of VERITAS Software’s strategy to make additional investments in delivering solutions for the Windows NT and Windows 2000 industry. By bringing to market industry-leading storage management solutions, such as VERITAS Backup Exec for Windows NT and Windows 2000, VERITAS Remote Storage for Microsoft Exchange, VERITAS Volume Manager, VERITAS ClusterX, VERITAS Storage Replicator and VERITAS NetBackup, VERITAS Software offers customers a single source to protect and manage their rapidly growing Microsoft Exchange environments. “We’re looking forward to expanding our reach into the Microsoft Exchange market by delivering a complete solution that combines data protection with optimal Microsoft Exchange management,” said Neal Ater, senior vice president, Data Protection Product Group, VERITAS Software. “With the VERITAS Exchange Protection Suite for Workgroups, VERITAS Software is offering a dynamic backup solution, coupled with a unique product, that addresses the issues that have arisen due to the increased amounts of data being stored in Microsoft Exchange databases. This is a single solution that meets numerous storage management needs.” Visit http://www.veritas.com for more information.

SGI BOOSTS PERFORMANCE ON VISUAL WORKSTATION

Mountain View, CA — Maintaining its position as the premier supplier of visual computing solutions to UNIX operating system users, SGI announced dramatic performance enhancements on the Silicon Graphics O2 visual workstation line. In addition, SGI announced a 27% price reduction on O2 systems with a 300 MHz MIPS R12000 processor. A new MIPS 400 MHz R12000A processor and expanded processor cache and system memory allow the O2 visual workstation to deliver up to a 45% increase in compute performance and a 27% increase in graphics performance over previous-generation systems at the same price point. As a result, the O2 line continues to provide superior performance in its price class on a wide range of scientific simulation and digital content creation applications.

“O2 has yielded a price/performance point that is unmatched by any other machine for the high-performance graphics industry. The latest addition of 400 MHz MIPS processors represents a double-digit increase in productivity for the artist in both number crunching and graphics performance,” said Andy Hendrickson, director of systems development at Industrial Light & Magic. “This upgrade will allow ILM to increase visual complexity without significantly increasing the time or cost of creation. We rely on SGI’s upgrade roadmap to supply the continuity needed to ensure a successful business without sacrificing artistic vision.” SGI also said it will continue to expand the features and capabilities of the O2 line in the coming years, optimizing the system so that it can take full advantage of new, faster processors currently under development. “We designed the O2 workstation not only to handle the graphics-intensive tasks and applications being used by technical and creative professionals, but also to allow for flexibility and expandability down the line,” said Greg Goelz, vice president of marketing for workstations and IA servers at SGI. “This foresight translates into an incredible return on investment for customers and ensures that they will continue to see increasingly powerful image processing and data manipulation capabilities on their O2 systems.”

MICROCHIP LAUNCHES 2.5V MICROPOWER OP AMPS

Chandler, ARIZ. — Expanding its portfolio of stand-alone analog components for digital designers, Microchip Technology Inc. Monday introduced the MCP6XX family of four 2.5 volt micropower operational amplifiers. The op amps offer significantly competitive offset voltage of less than 250 microvolts, which was achieved by offset voltage trimming using Microchip’s non-volatile memory expertise. The devices feature low supply current of 25 microamperes maximum with a single supply operation over the 2.5 to 5.5 volt range and a low bias current of one picoampere. The low offset voltage and bias current eliminate the need for offsetting circuitry, and the low supply current means less demand on the battery or power supply.

The MCP6XX family is offered in single (MCP606), single with an innovative chip-select capability (MCP607), dual (MCP608) and quad (MCP609) operational amplifier configurations. They feature rail-to-rail swing at output and unity gain stability. All devices are fully specified from -40 degrees Celsius to +85 degrees Celsius with power supplies from 2.5 volts to 5.5 volts. Applications may include sensors, instrumentation, and battery-operated applications. The devices are an ideal solution for engineers who need low offset voltage, low supply current and low voltage operation. To support the MCP6XX family, Microchip offers the FilterLab Active Filter Design Tool which simplifies active filter design for embedded systems designers using op amps for analog filter purposes. Available at no cost from Microchip’s website ( http://www.microchip.com ), the FilterLab software provides full schematic diagrams of the filter circuit with component values and displays the frequency response.

CYPRESS UPGRADES WARP SOFTWARE TOOLS

San Jose, CA — Cypress Semiconductor Corporation announced an upgrade of its popular Warp software design tools, introducing the Warp Release 6.0 family of programmable-logic design (PLD) software. Like previous versions of the Warp product, Warp Release 6.0 continues to provide a value-driven $99 edition along with two editions that provide additional design functionality. Warp R6.0 retains and capitalizes on all the features and benefits of earlier Warp tool suites, which have helped Cypress become the No. 1 supplier of VHDL and Verilog-based PLD software with more than 25,000 installed seats. Cypress pioneered the use of HDL for programmable-logic design when it introduced Warp in 1991. Its leadership design tools accept design entry using VHDL IEEE-STD-1076/1164 or Verilog IEEE-STD-1364 and offer users the option to seamlessly integrate Warp software with all major third-party EDA environments. Because Cypress develops its own VHDL and Verilog synthesis software, its Warp tools provide the capabilities of tools costing much more, enabling designers to realize all of the performance and speed-to-market advantages of programmable logic without a large investment in software tools.

“Cypress has continually led the design tool revolution in this highly competitive business,” said Christopher Norris, vice president of Cypress’s Programmable Logic Division. “We were the first vendor to support VHDL, the first and only company to write its own HDL synthesis code, and the first to offer mass-market programmable-logic software with our high-quality, full-featured Warp2 for $99.00. Warp Release 6.0 aims to build on our leadership position by continuing to provide high-value, high-quality design tools that support our new Delta39K(TM) CPLD family and all other Cypress programmable logic devices,” Norris continued. “From a competitive standpoint, each of the three new Warp packages offer much more flexibility and functionality at a lower cost than any other tool available.”

3DLABS UNVEILS OXYGEN VX1 VARIANT

Sunnyvale, CA — 3Dlabs, Inc. announced that it is shipping a new variant of the award-winning Oxygen VX1 professional graphics accelerator that has been engineered to directly drive the acclaimed Silicon Graphics 1600SW flat panel. The Oxygen VX1-1600SW combines 3Dlabs’ professional-strength 2D and PowerThreads OpenGL performance with a dedicated LVDS output connector for driving the Silicon Graphics 1600SW without the need for an external adaptor. SGI is offering a bundle of the Oxygen VX1-1600SW with the flat panel at an MSRP of $2895. 3Dlabs is offering the board through its distribution channel, enabling current owners of the Silicon Graphics 1600SW to significantly upgrade their graphics performance.

The Oxygen VX1-1600SW retains all the performance and functionality of 3Dlabs’ popular Oxygen VX1 professional graphics card, including 32MB of on-board memory, Virtual Texturing to enable the board to act like a 256MB graphics card, and 3Dlabs’ PowerThreads OpenGL drivers that provide a multi-threaded performance boost on multi-processor systems and are certified with close to 60 professional applications. Oxygen VX1-1600SW drives a VGA display connector and in addition integrates an LVDS connector that connects directly to the Silicon Graphics 1600SW, enabling the board to autosense either a Silicon Graphics 1600SW flat panel or a standard display. “3Dlabs has been a responsive and committed supplier to SGI as we have worked together to provide the Silicon Graphics 1600SW with a significant boost in graphics performance,” said Joel Ingulsrud, product manager, flat panel displays, SGI. “The quality and stability of the Oxygen VX1-1600SW is phenomenal, and we are thrilled to be able to offer existing and new users of the Silicon Graphics 1600SW a cost-effective, direct-drive board with true professional-grade 2D and OpenGL performance.” Visit http://www.3dlabs.com/ for more information.

COBALT UNVEILS LINUX-BASED SERVER APPLIANCE

San Diego, CA — Cobalt Networks has introduced a new version of its server appliance, a Linux-based machine used for dishing up Web traffic. Cobalt’s new model, the Raq4, comes with a slightly faster processor – a 450-MHz AMD K6-2 instead of the 300-MHz chip on the Raq3. But more significant is new software that the company hopes will lure customers that want to add more features to their Internet servers.

Cobalt, based in Mountain View, Calif., makes “server appliances” – computers designed to do one thing well. In the case of the Cobalt Raq line, the devices actually can perform several operations, including hosting email or Web pages. Cobalt’s Raq is designed to be bolted into racks used by customers who buy Cobalt machines in large quantities. Though Cobalt isn’t that big, it has won praise from analysts as one of the biggest sellers of server appliances. W.R. Hambrecht analyst Prakesh Patel expects Cobalt to report “a very strong quarter” tomorrow, with $15 million revenue.

MAXTOR SETS RECORD WITH 80 GB HARD DRIVE

Milpitas, CA — Maxtor Corp. established a new world’s record in hard drive capacity with its new 80 GB drive, the DiamondMax 80. Available in August 2000, the DiamondMax 80 IDE hard drive is ideal for storage-intensive applications that require high- capacity and fast transfer rates in personal computer (PC) systems, and for consumer electronics and network attached storage (NAS) systems. “The DiamondMax 80 drive is also seeing interest from traditional enterprise class storage customers due to the advantages of Maxtor’s drive capacity and IDE’s cost and simplicity,” said Mike Cannon, president and CEO of Maxtor. “Maxtor has driven IDE drive capacity, in a 1-inch height, beyond 1.6-inch SCSI capacity for the first time.”

Leading the IDE high-capacity segment, the DiamondMax 80 is a four platter, 20 GB per platter hard drive solution. At 5400 RPM and capable of transferring data at rates up to 100 MB per second, the DiamondMax 80 gives Maxtor a unique advantage to offer the highest capacity, highest performance storage solution in the market. The DiamondMax 80 sets the hard drive capacity record with 80 GB of storage capacity, the largest capacity among all available IDE and SCSI drives. In addition to the DiamondMax 80, Maxtor also announced the DiamondMax Plus 45, the newest addition to the 7200 RPM hard drive family. The DiamondMax Plus 45 is a 15 GB per platter solution offering the traditional award-winning DiamondMax Plus features including the high-performance Ultra ATA/100 interface.

EXABYTE ANNOUNCES NEW 430 TAPE LIBRARY

Boulder, COLO. — Exabyte Corporation, a leader in network backup systems, today announced the Exabyte 430 tape library. This feature-rich library design is engineered to be the most compact automation product available. The initial version utilizes the Mammoth-2 (M2) tape drive to provide the best tape performance, capacity, rack-density and reliability available today. With an anticipated list price of $20,000, Exabyte’s the 430 library with a M2 tape drive provides users with network backup capability at $4 per GB. Engineered for network backup/restore, remote storage and automated archiving for mission critical data, the 430 with M2 can store up to 1.8 TB (uncompressed) of data in 10 hours without operator intervention. The library occupies just two cubic feet of space and five units of rack height in order to maximize the use of valuable data center space. The feature-rich library is complete with data management capabilities such as Ethernet connectivity, Exabyte Library Monitoring software, barcode and pluggable SCSI and Fibre Channel interfaces. Designed for midrange departmental and workgroup environments, general availability for the 430 is expected in August 2000.

“The 430 is a first-class addition to the M2 tape library family, offering customers a compact high-performance tape library that is built to the storage requirements of today’s data-intensive networking environments,” said Peri Grover, marketing manager for tape libraries at Exabyte. “Compared to other products in its class, the 430 has a higher rack density, which is important to customers who must achieve optimal storage space for minimal cost in their data centers. Early evaluation units have already received rave reviews from end users, OEMs and software partners.” “Computer Associates ARCserve 2000 in combination with the Exabyte 430 Tape Library offers our mutual clients the premier eBusiness storage solution,” said Michael LaTorraca, vice president, development partner programs, Computer Associates International Inc. “By delivering superior performance, reliability and investment protection, ARCserve 2000 extends the already rich features and benefits of the Exabyte 430. We are delighted to bring this business value to clients.” Visit http://www.exabyte.com for more information.

PERFORMA PROCESSOR FAMILY POWERED BY PENTIUM

Corvallis, ORE. — Evergreen’s Performa III 600 & 700 upgrade PII systems with latest PIII Coppermine CPU; Performa 600 upgrades PII and Celeron systems with derivative Coppermine 128 CPU (Celeron); Performa Pro 600 upgrades Pentium Pro systems with Coppermine 128 CPU (Celeron) Evergreen Technologies, Inc., a leader in PC performance upgrades since 1989, announced the most recent evolution of its Performa processor upgrade family. The product line, designed for upgrading older Pentium II, Celeron and Pentium Pro processor-based desktop PCs, now includes the next generation, 0.18 micron Pentium III Coppermine CPU and its Celeron derivative (Coppermine 128). The Coppermine 128 chip is made from the regular Pentium III Coppermine core, which includes 256K L2 cache. Intel disables half of that L2 cache, leaving 128 K functional, and creates the PIII-based value line of Celeron processors at 600 MHz and above. Previous Celerons were based on Intel’s Mendocino core, which was produced on the 0.25 micron process and did not include the new SSE instructions for enhanced multimedia performance.

“Ever since the release of the Celeron 600, the Celeron line has been manufactured using the new Coppermine 128 core which features the same advanced SSE instructions and flipchip technology of the new PIII core,” said Mike Magee, president and CEO of Evergreen Technologies. “We now offer the next generation of PIII processor performance to users of older Pentium II, Celeron and Pentium Pro desktops who want to speed up their power-hungry software like Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000 or the upcoming Windows Millennium.” Evergreen’s Performa III upgrades enable users of Pentium II systems running at 350 MHz and above to boost their processing power to that of the latest Coppermine PIII 600 or 700 MHz CPU. The Evergreen Performa III features the full 100 MHz front side bus performance of Intel’s PIII Coppermine processor. Evergreen’s Performa III 600 is $349.99 (street price), while the Performa III 700 is $419.99 (street price).

UNIGRAPHICS ANNOUNCES PARASOLID VERSION 12.0

St. Louis, MO. — Unigraphics Solutions Inc. announces the release and immediate availability of Parasolid Version 12.0, its industry-leading kernel solid modeling product. This latest release continues Parasolid’s strategy of delivering unmatched modeling, interoperability and web-based technology in close collaboration with its community of industry leading MCAD vendors. Parasolid’s improved Direct Modeling technology enables development of sophisticated applications allowing CAD users to perform feature level edits to a model that has not been defined using a history based feature approach. Enhancements in Version 12.0 will allow users to modify several faces simultaneously, widening Parasolid’s existing lead in this key new modeling technology.

“History based modeling, used the last twelve years by the MCAD industry, has offered both plusses and minuses for designers,” says Ray Kurland, president of market research and consulting firm, TechniCom. “Models are easier to modify using variables to change driving parameters of the model, but when designers need to make significant model changes, history based modeling often gets in the way. Parasolid’s Direct Modeling gives users the benefits of easy editing, without the need for history.” Parasolid’s streamlined packaging options introduced in this release support the development of compact, efficient web-based commerce applications. Version 12.0 includes the first in a series of steps offering this innovative packaging of specific modeling technology to suit specific market sectors. For example, applications loaded over the web, such as model viewers, will download more quickly. Visit http://www.ugsolutions.com for more information.

SDRC SHIPS I-DEAS 8

Orlando, FLA. — SDRC, a global supplier of e-business collaboration solutions for the product lifecycle, today announced at the ICCON 2000 users conference the immediate availability of I-DEAS 8, a major software release to enable e-design automation. I-DEAS 8 features a new set of collaboration solutions, which allows customers to leverage the Internet across the entire product lifecycle, providing the type of communication environment that leads to greater product optimization. Additionally, I-DEAS 8 eliminates the differentiation between high-end and mid-range modelers by providing the first, truly scalable, best-in-class offering for all involved in product development.

ICCON 2000 Chairman, Bob Brown of Lucent Technologies, said, “SDRC has continued to show increased commitment to the development of I-DEAS and to the CAD/CAM/CAE market overall. It’s important to us, the customers, to be confident that SDRC will help us to evolve our product development processes by taking advantage of new technology and industry standards.” “As evidenced by the positive experiences of our customers, I-DEAS 8 is setting a new standard in our industry for web-enabled mechanical design automation,” said Bill Weyand, chairman and CEO, SDRC. “SDRC has been helping the world’s leading manufacturers solve their toughest product development challenges for more than three decades. This heritage, combined with the invaluable input from our customers, enables us to continually enrich our products to meet the constantly accelerating demand for right-to-market, high quality, customer-driven products.” At numerous beta sites around the globe, I-DEAS 8 has been successfully deployed in production environments. “SDRC’s new 3D annotation tool, I-DEAS Master Notation, is very exciting,” said Mohamad Samadi, CAD/CAM support, Lexmark International. “At Lexmark, we’re moving away from drawings and becoming more solid-centric. Master Notation will help us achieve that goal, and will provide us with a shorter development cycle.” Visit http://www.SDRC.com for more information.

HP E-VECTRA D9898T: AN IS-FRIENDLY WORKSTATION

San Diego, CA — Hewlett-Packard Co. has a long-standing reputation for manufacturing reliable systems for the corporate workplace. The company’s latest endeavor in this field is its line of diminutive e-Vectra desktop PCs. Like many systems designed for the corporate environment, the e-Vectra line offers a limited number of options. In fact, the only changes you can make are to add a display, an external USB floppy drive, and an extended warranty. For this review, we looked at the D9898T, which contained a 600MHz Pentium III, 128MB of SDRAM, an 8.4GB hard drive, and a 24x CD-ROM drive. The base system sells for $999, or $1,248 when you factor in the optional $249 17-inch HP71 monitor. The e-Vectra’s graphics come courtesy of its Intel 810e chip set. With 128MB of system memory on tap, HP wisely parceled 11MB of it to be shared by the graphics subsystem, compared with the paltry 4MB typically assigned to 810-based systems. Whereas Windows NT was the traditional operating system of choice for the workplace, newer corporate PCs have switched over to Windows 2000. The e-Vectra comes loaded with Windows 2000, and while its core CPU performance plants the system firmly in the 600MHz processor range, the e-Vectra racked up an impressive 29.8 Business Winstone 99 score – which is closer to 700MHz Pentium III territory on a Windows 98 machine.

Special notice should be taken of the Business Disk WinMark 99 result of 5,620 scored by the e-Vectra’s 8.4GB Quantum hard drive; it’s among the best scores we’ve seen. The graphics engine, on the other hand, is still not up to par with the latest generation of graphics accelerators, but it should be fast enough for just about any mainstream business app you need to run. As much as a computer is about performance, a system designed for corporate environments has other considerations as well. One of the primary ones, after the initial cost, is serviceability. The e-Vectra is one of the most serviceable workstations we’ve had the pleasure to disassemble. For security, the hard drive is locked in a small compartment at the top of the case. Unlock it with the included key, and the top slides off, allowing you to easily lift out the drive once you’ve disconnected the data and power cables. Remove two screws, and the outer case and inner chassis of the 3.5×9.5×10-inch (HWD) desktop unit slide apart. The CD-ROM drive slides out of its bay, and the chassis and motherboard form their own subsystem. An IS department with spare parts on hand could totally rebuild an e-Vectra in under 20 minutes.

BAKBONE INTRODUCES NETVAULT DIRECSAN

San Diego, CA — BakBone Software, Inc. announced that the forthcoming release of its NetVault storage management software will contain DirecSAN, an innovative breakthrough for storage area networks (SANs). DirecSAN enables data to bypass backup servers on the SAN, thus dramatically simplifying the process, reducing potential bottlenecks associated with SAN-based backup, and maximizing both performance and return on investment. BakBone officials said DirecSAN will be available as an integral part of NetVault, scheduled for release throughout North America within several weeks. DirecSAN is already included in versions of NetVault being sold throughout Europe and Asia, where it has established itself as a leading software solution for companies faced with exploding data storage needs.

A result of NetVault’s advanced, modular architecture, DirecSAN empowers NetVault users to reduce the steps needed to save corporate-critical data. NetVault’s design makes it possible for data to stream directly from a backup client on the SAN to a tape device, bypassing the backup server in the process. Termed Client Transfer Node (CTN), this technically elegant feature is a key advantage for MIS managers, faced with the dilemma of trying to maintain control over their rapidly growing data storage environments. This “client transfer” method of SAN data communication means that data can be backed up and retrieved more quickly and efficiently over a Fibre Channel or SCSI network, rather than the local area network (LAN). It also offers the additional benefit of freeing up crucial LAN bandwidth and dramatically improving network response time. “DirecSAN offers companies a distinct improvement in the way they perform their backups,” said BakBone CEO Tony Cerqueira. “Ease of use is a critical factor; so is speed. NetVault embodies both. DirecSAN is an embedded feature of NetVault, not an add-on component. Installation becomes a point-and-click experience, and can be completed within minutes. Users realize cost savings, tremendous speed on data transfers, and a high degree of ease of use, all of which are tremendously valued in this era of explosive data growth and limited personnel resources,” Cerqueira stated. Visit http://www.bakbone.com for more information.

QUANTUM’S DLT & STORAGE SYSTEMS GROUP REALIGNS

Milpitas, CA — Quantum Corporation’s DLT & Storage Systems Group announced an organizational realignment of its DLTtape group around five distinct lines of business designed to focus the organization on growth and faster response to changes and competition within the marketplace. “This new structure complements our goal of staying ahead of market changes while maintaining the DLTtape group’s operational excellence,” said Barbara Nelson, named president of Quantum’s DLTtape group in May of this year. “Not only does this strategy support Quantum’s leadership position within the data storage industry, but by decentralizing the decision-making process, it brings us closer to our customers and provides the flexibility and resources needed to support the DLTtape business.”

Each line of business is led by a vice president/general manager who reports directly to Nelson, whose proven strategic planning skills enable a strong platform for her to lead the DLTtape group. Nelson has held senior management positions for four years with Quantum and previously held executive positions with other world-class technology companies including Intel and Maxtor Corporation. Each line of business with their respective VP/GM’s includes the DLTtape Drive Division. Led by John Powell, this division has the charter of continuing to expand Quantum’s leadership in the midrange tape storage market by developing new DLTtape products and extending the platform into adjacent markets. Visit http://www.dlttape.com/super or http://www.quantum.com for more information.

UNIGRAPHICS ANNOUNCES PARASOLID BODYSHOP V2

St. Louis, MO. — Unigraphics Solutions Inc. announces the release of Parasolid Bodyshop (PS/Bodyshop) Version 2.0, an add-on module for Parasolid, UGS’ industry-leading kernel solid modeler. PS/Bodyshop Version 2 builds significantly on the strong foundation of its first release, announced earlier this year, which delivered state of the art model healing technology to improve the import of data from other CAD systems into Parasolid powered applications. The second version of PS/Bodyshop moves beyond healing to enable Parasolid powered applications to take a clear lead in practical interoperability. PS/Bodyshop Version 2 optimizes bi-directional interoperability by not only refining the data imported into Parasolid, but also pre-processing the data being output to increase the success rate of using Parasolid model data with other CAD technologies.

“PS/Bodyshop Version 2 reinforces UGS’ commitment to making the Parasolid pipeline a key interoperability enabler,” says Ken Sears, director of the Parasolid line of business for UGS. “We recognize that Parasolid is not the only modeling technology in use, and that our users have a need to cooperate with users of non-Parasolid powered systems. By introducing the optimization of both reading and writing into PS/Bodyshop, we are leading the way towards true data sharing.” The first release of PS/Bodyshop featured integrated model healing – Parasolid’s unique pervasive tolerant modeling technology – with Parasolid’s industry-leading precision. (Parasolid models to a hundredth of a micron within a kilometer, at least ten times better than its nearest competitor.) PS/Bodyshop Version 2 adds model cleaning, simplifying and representation optimization. Integrated together, these technologies significantly advance the state of the art in robust interoperability.

MACMILLAN INTRODUCES LINUX FOR WINDOWS 7.1

Indianapolis, IND. — Macmillan announces the update to their popular Linux for Windows product is currently available in stores. With this software, first-time Linux users can try the Linux environment without losing the Windows functionality that they are familiar with. Linux for Windows 7.1 includes the Linux-Mandrake 7.1 operating system, most noted for its ease of use and user-friendly tools.

Linux for Windows 7.1 allows PC users to experience Linux on a Windows system in 3 easy steps. With auto-run, the program automatically asks users if they would like the full Linux installation or the Linux for Windows installation. Upon choosing Linux for Windows, users will follow 3 easy steps. First, set the amount of hard drive space the user wants to dedicate to Linux and how it will boot. Second, follow the step-by-step install of the most up-to-date Linux functionality with the Linux-Mandrake 7.1 operating system. Third, click the desktop icon to use Linux. The technology included with Linux for Windows 7.1 removes the need for disk partitioning or reformatting, thus making an excellent gateway for new users interested in Linux. Free 24-hour technical support is also provided via Internet and fax for installation issues. Visit http://www.linux-mandrake.com or http://www.macmillanusa.com for more information.

PC-DOCTOR INTRODUCES SOLUTIONS FOR LINUX USERS

Emeryville, CA — PC-Doctor, Inc., a leading global developer of hardware diagnostic and system information tools, announces PC-Doctor for Linux, the first Linux-based hardware diagnostic tool designed for personal computer manufacturers and corporate IT departments. This diagnostic solution determines the configuration of computers running Linux and performs over 350 tests for quick resolution of hardware problems. PC-Doctor for Linux supports all major Linux distributions including those from Red Hat, SuSE, Corel, Debian, and Slackware. The product also provides an enterprise-strength and structured diagnostic environment for embedded Linux applications. PC-Doctor for Linux is available for most CPUs including IA32, IA64, and RISC.

“PC-Doctor’s Linux solution offers OEMs and IT organizations the same robust diagnostic features we already provide for other popular operating environments,” said Aki Korhonen, Chief Technology Officer of PC-Doctor. “True to our role as the diagnostic standards leader in the PC industry, PC-Doctor is the first to include Linux. We are determined to offer our customers the most current and comprehensive testing for the latest technologies.” PC-Doctor for Linux is based on the new highly modular cross-platform PC-Doctor 2000 Diagnostic Architecture that uses portable C, XML and Java for platform independence. A new version of the Diagnostic Application Programming Interface, DAPI2, allows easy creation of diagnostic modules for the environment. A special feature of DAPI2 is its closeness to the Common Diagnostic Model (CDM), which allows PC-Doctor Inc. to provide turnkey CDM-enabled systems that are based on Linux. DAPI2 also enables a new generation of diagnostic capabilities for self-fix, self-heal and web-based e-support integration. For more information, visit http://www.pcdoctorstore.com .

IDEAS INTERNATIONAL ENHANCES SERVICES RESEARCH

Sydney, AUSTRALIA — Global IT analysts, IDEAS International Pty Limited., has announced key functional enhancements for their IT services market segment research module, CPService, which features new comparative coverage of Linux support offerings and Cost of Ownership visualization techniques. Also newly added to CPService is the functionality to save detailed Cost Of Ownership configuration analyses and share the outcomes with fellow users. IDEAS International has researched a major new section for CPService that compares the Linux Support Services offerings for a broad spectrum of companies including both traditional UNIX server vendors (i.e. Compaq, Dell, HP, IBM & SGI) as well as specialist Linux companies (Red Hat, Caldera Systems, Linuxcare, SuSE & TurboLinux).

The research indicates which providers offer the broadest spectrum of Linux support in the industry and what the relative service costs and charging structures are. The research has been made available immediately to all existing CPService research users at no additional charge. Principal Analyst at IDEAS International for services research, Gary Burgess, commented “we see Linux migrating to phase two of its development due to the greater acceptance of the user community. In this new paradigm vendors are seeking to make revenue out of what was first conceived as a free operating system. Our research indicates significant variations in the scope and costs of Linux support; even to the extent where a package of 20 support incidents can cost between $1,500 and $3,499”. A key aspect of the CPService data coverage is the comprehensive section comparing the Cost Of Ownership (COO) of a range of configured UNIX and NT Server products at different levels of service coverage – e.g. Same Day, Next Day and 7X24. This section is updated regularly with new products as they are released to the industry and features a number of different charting views to help the user closely identify the relative COO and performance positioning of server products and services. Visit http://www.ideasinternational.com for more information.

INTEL DELAYS SHIPMENTS OF NEW CHIP

Santa Clara, CA — Intel Corp. has postponed the debut of its first 64-bit processor for at least three months. Intel won’t begin selling the chip, dubbed Itanium, until the fourth quarter, company officials said. Intel’s Pentium line of central processing units, the company’s most sophisticated on the market, are 32-bit chips. The Santa Clara-based company previously had targeted a third-quarter rollout for the Itanium, designed for use in sophisticated computer servers rather than PCs.

Such servers power the Internet and run large corporate databases. Intel is touting its new 64-bit chip as a faster, more reliable processor for sifting through the reams of data stored on servers and speeding up Net transactions. The Itanium is being held back because Intel wants to spend more time testing the chip to detect any possible bugs before the product hits the market. The delay means the new chip probably won’t show up in servers until the first half of next year, Intel spokesman Michael Sullivan said. The new chip represents Intel’s attempt to compete in the high-end server market against chips designed by IBM Corp., Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard and SGI.

GENESIS2 AND GENESIS4 ACHIEVE PERFORMANCE BOOST

Irvine, CA — MicroNet Technology, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Ampex Corp. and an innovator in storage technology, announced a flexibility and speed enhancement to the Genesis2 and Genesis4 RAID storage solutions. The Genesis2 and Genesis4 systems are now available with high-performance Ultra3 SCSI RAID Controllers that deliver optimal speed in data intensive applications at an SRP of $162,115 for 2 terabytes of online data storage. Supporting RAID levels 0/1/3/4/5/0+1 and JBOD, the Genesis RAID solution can deliver extremely fast sequential reads up to 220MB/sec., and sustained writes at up to 120MB/sec. in RAID 5 operation. This enhanced system combines Ultra3 LVD SCSI drives, an Ultra3 LVD SCSI host interface, and MicroNet’s Genesis RAID Manager 2.0 Graphical User Interface (GUI) for powerful system management when using the Genesis systems.

Designed for creative markets with mission critical SAN applications, Genesis systems now include online capacity expansion, enabling users to reconfigure the system without network interruptions. This growth and rebuild feature makes it possible to increase storage capacity by adding a drive to an existing RAID array without taking the RAID system off-line although this is operating system dependent. In addition, MicroNet’s patented drive latching feature has been extended to the RAID controllers. Now, each RAID controller is firmly latched in place and only ejects under a failed controller condition. “MicroNet consistently strives to take its SAN solutions to the highest level in performance, while offering the options required to meet each user’s specific needs,” said Robert Faulkner, general manager of MicroNet. “The addition of this leading-edge performance RAID Controller enables the Genesis system to handle extreme bandwidth applications while maintaining a very competitive price point.” Visit http://www.micronet.com for more information.

ADAPTEC RECALLS SMARTRAID CONTROLLERS

Milpitas, CA — Adaptec, Inc. announced a limited recall of its DPT SmartRAID Decade VI Ultra160 SCSI RAID controllers, shipped prior to May 2000, after discovering errors in the QLogic 12160A SCSI chips that were used to manufacture the controller cards. The recall affects up to 2,500 DPT Decade VI Ultra160 SCSI RAID controllers, a product line acquired by Adaptec in the December 1999 acquisition of Distributed Processing Technology (DPT). According to Bob Schultz, chief operating officer at Adaptec, the flawed chips could send incorrect information to the RAID controller, which can, in some cases, lead to SCSI bus hangs and parity errors. “Adaptec has a zero tolerance policy for components that compromise data protection,” Schultz said. He added that because the defects are difficult to detect in the QLogic chips, the company has decided to recall all of the potentially affected components as a precaution.

“As part of our commitment to quality, Adaptec subjects all new products to a series of ongoing compatibility tests that includes hours of testing against more than one hundred different configuration scenarios. The QLogic issue that prompted this recall was uncovered as a result of this advanced compatibility testing process,” Schultz said. The Adaptec DPT Decade VI Ultra160 SCSI RAID controllers included in the recall are model numbers PM-1564U3 and PM1564U3-2U3. The affected serial numbers, located at the bottom right hand corner on the face of the RAID controllers, are 03-000001 through 03-005599. The devices have been distributed primarily through value-added resellers and systems integrators. A replacement RAID product will be provided by Adaptec, along with up to $300 for installation expenses. More information is available at http://www.adaptec.com .

VST INTRODUCES ULTRATEK/66

New York, N.Y. — SmartDisk Personal Storage Systems, formerly VST Technologies, announced the VST UltraTek/66 ATA RAID Controller, an ultra-high-speed RAID solution for improving the storage capacity, data integrity and performance of Power Macintosh G3 and G4 computers. SmartDisk is demonstrating the VST UltraTek/66 ATA RAID Controller at Macworld Expo, July 19-21 at the Javits Center in New York. SmartDisk Personal Storage Systems is a wholly owned subsidiary of SmartDisk Corporation. Featuring SoftRAID software, the VST UltraTek/66 is capable of increasing storage and data transfer by 300 percent. It provides more than 60 megabytes-per-second sustained RD transfer rates and more than 45 megabytes-per-second sustained WR, making it the fastest driver available for data-intensive tasks, including digital video and PhotoShop editing, database management and server applications.

“The UltraTek/66 provides PowerMac G3 and G4 users a quick and affordable solution to significantly increase storage capacity, performance and data integrity,” said Vince Fedele, Chief Technology Officer, SmartDisk. “We’ve priced this product much less than similar solutions to enable consumers to achieve workstation performance at half the cost.” The UltraTek/66 card can be installed by simply running the SoftRAID Installer, attaching the UltraTek/66 in a PCI slot and linking the cables provided in the package to the drives. When used with IBM’s latest 7200RPM 75GXP DeskStar series of ultra-ATA/66 hard drive mechanisms, performance is equivalent to Ultra2 SCSI, for a total solution cost of about half of typical SCSI solutions. In addition, SoftRAID provides RAID levels 0 and 1 (striping and mirroring) simultaneously. Striping provides increased capacity and performance while mirroring provides redundancy with duplicate data on separate drive mechanisms.

GADZOOX EXTENDS CAPELLIX 2000 SERIES

San Diego, CA — Gadzoox Networks, Inc., a leader in SAN (storage area network) products, extended its Gadzoox Capellix 2000 Series of Fibre Channel Loop Switches with immediate availability of the Capellix 2000C and Capellix 2000F. The newest members of the Capellix family allow IT professionals to move to SANs more economically with switches that deliver improved price/performance value, modularity and interoperability. The Capellix 2000C switch integrates eight copper-media HSSDC ports to set a new pricing standard for SAN switching. The suggested list price (SLP) of $2995, or $375 per port, brings the Gadzoox Fibre Channel switch price to 50% lower than any other Fibre Channel switch available in the market today based on publicly available pricing information as of July 1, 2000. The Capellix 2000C’s price point enables IT professionals to move from SCSI to more powerful, yet economical Fibre Channel SAN systems. The new $5795 (SLP) Capellix 2000F completes the 2000 Series, with eight integrated optical ports, delivering the best value for an all-optical solution.

Gadzoox Networks believes that SAN deployments are being driven by specific solutions such as high-availability clustering, high-performance clustering, and advanced backup methodologies designed to meet business needs. These application specific “SAN clusters” require high bandwidth, scalability, and broad interoperability at an affordable price. Since 80% of fibre channel ports shipped on servers and storage devices use the industry standard FC-AL protocol, loop switching has rapidly emerged as an ideal networking method to build clustering solutions. “The Capellix 2000 changes the landscape by lowering the loop switching cost point. There no longer is any switch vs. hub decision for those just getting into the SAN game.” said Steve Duplessie, Senior Analyst, Enterprise Storage Group. Visit http://www.gadzoox.com for more information.

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