Falcon Systems, Inc. has introduced the FastfilePro, a line of highly
configurable, dedicated file servers designed to deliver industry-leading
fast file access to networked UNIX environments. The FastfilePro
incorporates new network, hardware and software technologies and an open,
multi-processor architecture to break all records for fast file access,
price and performance in the Network File System (NFS) data access
marketplace.

FastfilePro delivers throughput of up to 1300 NFS operations at less than
14 msec access times -- using RAID level 5. Driving this speed is the
FastfilePro's multi-processor architecture (MPA), which incorporates both
a powerful 100 MHz Pentium processor fully dedicated to NFS file transfer
and up to four, dedicated PCI RAID processors which, as part of Falcon's
exclusive hardware-based AerRAID technology, handle all RAID functions
including parity generation, hot swap and reconstruction. When disk
failure occurs, the FastfilePro does not slow down like competing systems
using software RAID, which must rely upon a single processor to perform
both the rebuild operations and normal file transfer functions. Instead,
Falcon's AerRAID is able to complete the rebuild process in minutes,
freeing up the Pentium processor to continue its file serving function
without interruption. I/O throughput is also enhanced by the system's PCI
bus, which runs at speeds of 132 Mbytes per second -- more than four times
faster than the SBus.

The FastfilePro is the first NFS file server to utilize fibre channel
networking technology, another factor that contributes to the system's
speed. Fibre channel operates at speeds of up to 1,066 Mbytes per second
(mbps) and allows the transmission of large data files at rates of six to
250 times faster than other technologies, including ATM, which runs at 155
mbps. For those organizations not yet wired with full-speed or
quarter-speed fibre channel, Falcon offers network interface options for
HIPPI, ATM, FDDI, Fast Ethernet and standard Ethernet.

AerREAL, the system's real-time operating system, is compatible with all
UNIX flavors and allows the FastfilePro to interface with hardware
platforms from Sun, Silicon Graphics, IBM, Hewlett-Packard and DEC, as
well as other NFS-compatible systems. The FastfilePro accommodates single
disk drives as well as very large RAID disk arrays. Maximum storage
capacity is 8 Tbytes, including external devices. A typical configuration
delivers 250 Gbytes of RAID storage in a choice of levels 0, 1, 0+1, RAID
3 equivalent, 5 and JBOD. Mirroring, spanning and striping capabilities
are standard hardware RAID features.

The system is compatible with a variety of widely available,
industry-standard storage peripherals. Pricing starts at $18,995. For more
information, contact Falcon Systems, Inc., Server Development Division,
1417 North Market Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95834. Phone: 1-800-326-1002. Fax:
916/928-9355. info@falcons.com. Home page: http://www.falcons.sdd.com.
 
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