NEWS BRIEFS

Bethesda, MD. — OTG Software, Inc., a leading software developer of online storage, data access and email management solutions, announced SANXtender, its new storage software that provides automated, centralized storage of data in storage area networks (SANs), enabling applications to read directly from SAN devices. SANXtender harnesses the power of SANs by allowing applications to have bi-directional access to SAN-stored data.

SANXtender helps organizations easily transition from storage in a LAN environment to the SAN by supporting phased SAN deployment from the network to the Web. By acting as a SAN gateway for users and applications, SANXtender automatically discovers and works with fibre switches and routers, makes intelligent use of the hardware’s extended copy features, and handles interoperability between SAN devices. This product addresses the needs of the burgeoning SAN market, projected by IDC to grow to nearly $14 billion by 2003 from almost $5 billion in 2000 (including hardware).

“New applications like email are spurring unprecedented data growth, making data storage and access critical, from the LAN to the SAN. OTG is extending its core storage expertise to data management in the SAN, with an access-focused strategy that will bridge the LAN and the SAN with the Web,” said Richard Kay, president and CEO of OTG Software. “OTG moves beyond typical SAN backup solutions to truly empower storage. With our application- centric approach, we turn SAN-stored data into application data, available whenever and wherever you need it, at SAN speed.”

“It is clear that OTG is one of the few vendors today that truly unlocks the value of the SAN, helping customers to achieve greater cost savings in storage,” said Steve Widen, Research Director, Storage Software, IDC. “SANXtender does for the SAN what OTG’s DiskXtender does for the more traditional LAN and direct attached storage, that is, maximize the performance of storage resources and data access.”

“SANXtender is an exciting new software solution that complements our routers and furthers SAN adoption, opening up new markets for us,” said Mike Hardy, VP Marketing, Chaparral Network Storage. “As an OTG SAN partner, we are pleased that SANXtender meets the enterprise level requirements of the SAN and exploits the advanced scalability of our routers.”

SANXtender provides transparent application access to data on the LAN and SAN through its tight integration with OTG’s core storage software, DiskXtender. It helps to lower the total cost of ownership of data stored on the SAN and the LAN, through its ability to store data on a variety of media (RAID, tape, optical, CD, DVD-RAM, NAS, etc.), and leverage existing storage systems. SANXtender helps to maximize SAN resources through serverless data movement, improving performance by offloading data traffic from the LAN. By passing low-volume metadata through the LAN, while moving high-volume traffic via the SAN, the product moves data intelligently. It also provides direct access by allowing applications to store and read data directly from SAN devices.

SANXtender reduces the burden of SAN management for administrators with features such as automatic discovery of SAN switches and routers; automatic query of device capabilities; and intelligent load balancing in multi-router environments.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, OTG Software is a leading provider of online storage management and access solutions, including a dynamic email management solution. OTG’s software enables enterprises to store, track and retrieve data over a variety of network architectures, including the Web and storage area networks. Through its application-centric product suite, OTG offers a complete business, Web and e-commerce solution that provides robust functionality across every industry. OTG empowers storage by combining infinite storage with infinite access and infinite email management. OTG’s products support over 600 storage devices, are easy to install and use, and can manage storage systems ranging in size from a single storage device to an enterprise-wide network storage system. OTG Software’s products are used by over 7,500 organizations worldwide and are available through a network of over 300 VARs, distributors, and OEMs. For more information, visit the Company’s web site at http://www.otg.com .

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