Storage Dimensions Expands Support of Its Award-Winning VantagePoint
Storage Management Software to Windows NT

SYSTEM ADMINISTRATORS CAN MONITOR DISK STORAGE ACROSS MULTIPLE WINDOWS NT
AND NETWARE SERVERS FROM A CENTRALIZED WINDOWS NT CONSOLE

MILPITAS, CALIFORNIA (MAY 6, 1996) -- Storage Dimensions today announced
VantagePoint 2.0, an expanded version of its storage management software
which now includes support for Windows NT. Previously released for
NetWare, VantagePoint 2.0 will be the industry leading enterprise storage
management solution allowing network administrators to centrally monitor
the performance, condition, and configuration of all disk storage devices
attached to Windows NT and NetWare servers. In expanding VantagePoint 2.0
to support Windows NT, Storage Dimensions is bringing important new
functionality to the NT market while building on its strategy to develop a
general purpose storage management tool that spans not only across server
platforms, but across multi-vendor storage devices as well.

"VantagePoint 2.0 not only brings important storage management capabilities
to NT environments, but also integrates several features that lay the
foundation for true enterprise storage management," said Jeffrey Schnabel,
senior product marketing manager for Storage Dimensions. "These features
include support for multiple platforms and non-Storage Dimensions disk
devices, combined with support of HP OpenView and the implementation of
TCP/IP addressing."

VANTAGEPOINT BRINGS EASY STORAGE MANAGEMENT TO MULTI-SERVER NT NETWORKS

As organizations migrate applications from centralized mainframe and
high-end UNIX servers to Windows NT environments, NT servers are being
optimized to accommodate the requirements of applications such as
databases and Inter/Intranet services that were traditionally handled by
midrange servers. As a result, NT servers tend to be high-growth,
mission-critical servers demanding highly-manageable storage solutions.
These storage management requirements have become a critical concern for
IT management.

VantagePoint 2.0 meets NT demands with an easy to use application that can
centrally manage large multi-server networks. From a single Windows NT
management console, VantagePoint 2.0 enables the system administrator to
view multiple screens displaying system configuration information, drive
and controller inventory, array status, enclosure monitoring, and storage
system performance. This makes it easy to keep track of important changes
in storage systems and pinpoint performance bottlenecks before they become
problems. In addition, VantagePoint 2.0 provides real-time, proactive
alerting of system events, enabling immediate response to conditions that
threaten or put the storage system in a degraded mode.

VANTAGEPOINT OFFERS THE FIRST OPEN STORAGE MANAGEMENT SOLUTION

VantagePoint 2.0 is the first, and only storage management architecture to
offer a consistent open storage management solution across a
multi-platform network from a single workstation. Unlike other storage
management solutions that are tied to a particular PC server vendor's
captive storage, VantagePoint 2.0 can collect information from storage
devices attached to any Intel-based server. VantagePoint 2.0 further
demonstrates the Storage Dimensions commitment to open standards with
support of (1) HP OpenView, the leading high-level network management
solution, (2) TCP/IP network protocol, and (3) any SCSI disk storage
device attached to NT and NetWare servers.

VantagePoint 2.0 can send storage system alerts and status on failures to
HP OpenView via SNMP traps, enabling an administrator to manage enterprise
network servers and storage from a single HP OpenView console. Storage
Dimensions offers a full integration kit for OpenView and an instruction
guide to help administrators quickly integrate VantagePoint 2.0 into their
OpenView environments. Virtually any platform that can read SNMP traps can
receive VantagePoint alerts and status information using a MIB (Management
Information Base) browsing capability. Initial Storage Dimensions support
for HP OpenView will set the stage for future integration of other
MIB-compliant network management solutions.

VantagePoint 2.0 also implements TCP/IP addressing, providing the ability
to manage enterprise storage systems distributed over wide area networks.
IPX addressing for NetWare is supported as well.

In this release, VantagePoint 2.0 is introducing the ability to gather and
report information on any SCSI disk storage device, not just Storage
Dimensions disk systems. No other storage management package monitors
multi-vendor disk devices. VantagePoint 2.0 currently reports very
comprehensive information on Storage Dimensions disk storage devices. The
Company's long-range plans include expanding this comprehensive monitoring
to third party disk devices.

VANTAGEPOINT 2.0 DELIVERS CENTRALIZED DISK ARRAY MANAGEMENT ACROSS A
MULTI-SERVER NETWORK

VantagePoint 2.0 is a robust storage management system that provides a
comprehensive set of storage management tools not currently available in
any management package. VantagePoint 2.0 captures information by
monitoring data flow between the storage and the network operating system.
The application includes two key software components: (1) SNMP-based
server agents that monitor and collect data traffic between storage
systems and the network operating system, and (2) a management console
that periodically polls the server agents to monitor system status and
performance and provide alert notification via electronic pager and
e-mail. The management console collects information on disk configuration,
drive and controller inventory, array status, enclosure temperature, power
supply status, and performance.

VantagePoint 2.0 simplifies troubleshooting by enabling administrators to
obtain detailed status information on disk arrays and the components that
compose the disk array. Administrators can "drill down" to view the disk
array's SCSI components and collect positive confirmation of normal
operation, degraded operation, and data reconstruction activity. Other
storage management software such as Compaq's Insight Manager do not
provide this level of detail.

VANTAGEPOINT 2.0 DELIVERS UNMATCHED GRAPHICAL PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS

VantagePoint 2.0 provides an enhanced set of graphical performance analysis
tools that allow system administrators to measure real-time and historical
I/O activity for local and remote systems. For each disk array and
component device, VantagePoint 2.0 collects performance data such as
average throughput measured in KB per second; I/O mix expressed in
read/write percentages; and transaction rates measured in I/Os per second.
The 3-D enhanced graphical reports help managers visually identify trends,
measure storage utilization, and isolate potential "hot-spots" before
problems occur. The data can also be used to manage load balancing of
storage and servers on the network and to plan for system upgrades and
expansion. The Windows GUI software is easy to use and allows the
administrator to customize the capture and presentation of performance
data.

PAGERS AND E-MAIL PROVIDE IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION OF SYSTEM EVENTS

VantagePoint 2.0 can provide system administrators immediate notification
of storage system events via pager, enabling rapid response to incidents
that could jeopardize performance or fault-tolerance. E-mail notification
is also currently available with the Windows 3.1x management console for
NetWare and will be integrated with the Windows NT management console in
June. Alert notification allows for "lights out management, which reduces
system administration costs by eliminating the need for around-the-clock
on-site monitoring. VantagePoint 2.0 utilizes AlertPage notification
technology licensed from Denmac Systems, based in Northbrook, Illinois.

VANTAGEPOINT 2.0 LOWERS NETWORK STORAGE COSTS

By providing visibility to key storage system characteristics on a
real-time basis, and by providing immediate notification of problems,
VantagePoint 2.0 can help network administrators respond to storage system
changes before costly downtime occurs. (CRN/The Gallop Organization
estimates the median cost of unplanned server downtime to average $4,000
per hour in Fortune 1000 companies.) In addition, the comprehensive
performance analysis tools in VantagePoint 2.0 help network administrators
measure storage utilization and plan for system expansion and
reconfiguration in a proactive manner.

SPECIFICATIONS, PRICING, AND AVAILABILITY

VantagePoint 2.0 is composed of a management console and server agents for
NetWare and Windows NT. Future support for other operating systems is
planned. The VantagePoint Management Console resides on the system
administrator's Windows 3.1x or Windows NT workstation. Windows 3.1x
supports NetWare servers, while Windows NT supports both server platforms.
The VantagePoint Server Agent resides on each NetWare and Windows NT
server being managed.

Available in May, VantagePoint 2.0 carries an estimated street price of
$995, and includes VantagePoint Management Console software for one
workstation console, VantagePoint Server Agent software for one NetWare
server and one Windows NT server, and AlertPage.

Founded in 1985, Storage Dimensions is a leading independent vendor of
high-availability disk and tape storage systems for client/server and open
systems environments. In addition to award-winning, leading- edge
products, the Company provides a number of innovative and sophisticated
support programs to help customers minimize the total cost-of-ownership
over the life-cycle of their storage investment. The Company is ISO 9002
certified and primarily serves Fortune 1000 corporations and large
institutions that have business- and mission-critical applications
requiring high capacity, performance, reliability, and availability.
Storage Dimensions products are available through a worldwide network of
authorized resellers and distributors. The company is located at 1656
McCarthy Boulevard, Milpitas, CA 95035 and can be reached at 408-954-0710.
The Company's World Wide Web address is http://www.storagedimensions.com.
 
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