-ARTECON: Artecon RAID system earns Microsoft Cluster Server certification.

M2 PRESSWIRE-2 December 1998-ARTECON: Artecon RAID system earns Microsoft Cluster Server certification (C)1994-98 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:301198

-- SuperFlex 5500 delivers the performance, fault- tolerance and scalability demanded by NT clustering applications

Artecon, a global leader in high-availability open systems network- and server-attached storage solutions, has announced that its SuperFlex 5500 RAID storage system has been validated as a "Cluster Device" by Microsoft Windows Hardware Quality Labs.

The SuperFlex 5500 system can now officially be used to create Windows NT 4.0. Enterprise Edition Microsoft Cluster Server (MSCS) configurations (also known as Wolfpack.) when combined with other MSCS- approved devices.

Clustered systems provide high availability and greater aggregate performance for critical business applications. Superflex 5500 allows users to streamline the implementation of high- performing, resilient and scalable storage systems for multiple- server cluster environments. The validation as an MSCS-compatible clustering component provides assurance to users that Superflex 5500 is a proven storage solution for NT cluster applications.

According to Artecon UK's Robert Taylor, "SuperFlex 5500 brings exceptionally robust, fault-tolerant data storage to clustering. Our work with Microsoft on this rigorous validation emphasises our strategic focus on NT. It also confirms our intention of meeting the overall solution requirements for high- availability storage which now includes Wolfpack."

SuperFlex 5500 provides the performance, resiliency and scalability designed for complex multi-server environments. The system features dual-active UltraSCSI RAID controllers with Intel processors and mirrored Write-back cache for optimal performance.

SuperFlex 5500's dual-active RAID controllers also minimise the risk of a single point of failure in the storage system with transparent automatic, failover and failback. The 14-bay SuperFlex 5500 provides capacity up to 256 gigabytes per system and can be configured to reach 2.5 terabytes by connecting multiple systems.

Superflex 5500 passed Microsoft's PC 97 Hardware Design Guide compliance testing for Windows NT 4.0 which includes cluster test, cluster failover test, RAID hardware test, and diskstress test. Hardware listed by Microsoft as PC 97 is compatible with Windows NT and meets the Designed for Windows NT requirements.

Artecon has also received the Microsoft Cluster System certification for a cluster consisting of SuperFlex 5500 and Compaq servers and is in the process of validating another cluster with IBM servers.

Founded in 1984, Artecon designs, manufactures, markets and supports a broad range of enterprise storage solutions to satisfy the high availability, performance and capacity requirements of the open systems market. On March 31, 1998, Artecon completed a merger with independent RAID storage vendor Storage Dimensions, creating one of the world's largest open systems, independent storage companies serving the PC-LAN and Unix markets. The combined Company's products consist of server-attached as well as network-attached storage systems. In addition, the Company's EXTREME product line includes disaster- tolerant RAID systems for telco Central Office and Internet applications. Artecon has a subsidiary in Japan, and a subsidiary in Europe with offices in France, England and the Netherlands. The Company also operates through reseller and distributor channels worldwide.

Editors Notes: 1. Further information on Windows NT 4.0 MSCS configurations and the Microsoft Cluster Server Hardware Compatibility Tests can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/hwtest/hcl. 2. Artecon has a number of review systems available if required. Please contact either Robert Taylor or Jacqui Green on the numbers listed below. 3. More information on Artecon (Nasdaq: ARTE) can be found at http://www.artecon.com.

CONTACT: Robert Taylor, Artecon UK Tel: +44 (0)1252 863 000 Fax: +44 (0)1252 863 010 e-mail: taylor@artecon.com Jacqui Green, Jacqui Green Marketing Tel: +44 (0)181 464 6462 Fax: +44 (0)181 313 0309 e-mail: jacqui.green@pop3.hiway.co.uk Sudi Liu, PR Manager, Artecon Inc Tel: +1 761 431 4463 Fax: +1 760 931 5527 e-mail: sudi.liu@artecon.com

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