AST INTRODUCES HIGH-PERFORMANCE MULTI-CHANNEL DISK ARRAY FOR SERVER AND
MULTIPROCESSOR SYSTEMS 

FastSCSI Host Adapter Delivers High Speed and Maximum Fault Tolerance

IRVINE, Calif. Nov. 23, 1991-- AST Research today introduced a
high-performance, multi-channel disk array subsystem for its server and
multiprocessor systems, providing optimum data throughput and fault
tolerance for today's demanding networking environments.

AST-is offering the choice of two high-speed hardware disk array options
for its Premium SE servers and Manhattan SMP-multiprocessor with multiple
FastSCSI channels that allow each hardware installation to be tailored to
users' needs.

The new array controllers support FastSCSI-2, delivering 10MB-per-second-
data transfer rates, a significant gain in speed over standard SCSI's
5MB-per-second data transfer rate. Also, the controllers support RAID
levels 0, 1, 5 and AST RAID 6 for speed and/or data redundancy.

"The AST disk array, by its multi-channel design, offers more performance
and flexibility than competing products," said Larry Fortmuller, AST's
director of high performance systems. "The AST array dramatically enhances
data access speeds and provides fault tolerance with various RAID levels
for high system up-time, so critical in the corporate computing
environment."

Key to the AST disk array's high performance levels are its I906 CA RISC
Processor, FastSCSI support, multi-channel SCSI support, standard 4MB
hardware cache and 32-bit EISA bus master controller design.

The array is offered in both five- and three-channel versions, each
supporting four FastSCSI devices per channel, with one channel dedicated
to backup media such as tape. For maximum efficiency this dedicated
channel provides connection to a variety of peripherals, while allowing
the other channels to be free to support disk drives.

The five-channel controller, with a suggested retail list price of $3,995,
supports up to 16 hard drives. The three-channel board, priced at $2,995
suggested list, supports up to eight drives. Each AST Premium SE or
Manhattan SMP system accommodates up to two controllers. The disk array
option is scheduled for availability in December.

Every AST Manhattan SMP multiprocessor includes one AST multi-channel disk
array as standard equipment, with room for an additional optional
controller. Both the Premium SE servers and Manhattan SMP multiprocessor
provide a maximum of 32GB of system storage capacity when combined with
AST's XP expansion cabinet. This optional companion product ($1,995) also
supports up to 16 drives with the same high-level performance and fault
resiliency.

End users can configure the controllers to run RAID levels 0, 1, 5 and AST
RAID 6 or a combination of those levels to fit customer's needs. When a
RAID level supporting fault tolerant data redundancy is used, system
operation continues without interruption in the event of drive failure.

RAID 0 (striping) reads and writes data across multiple disks for maximum
speed in accessing data. RAID 1 (mirroring) duplicates data onto a
second-drive or multiple drives for redundancy.

RAID 5 stripes data and parity information across multiple disks, providing
the most efficient and economical fault tolerant solution for the Premium
SE and Manhattan SMP systems. Under RAID 5, the AST systems support
automatic drive failure detection, hot replacement of a failed drive and
on-line rebuilding of a replacement drive. Also, hot standby, an
additional feature, is a spare drive in the system that automatically
takes the place of a failed drive, all while the system keeps running.

AST RAID 6, a combination of RAID 0 and 1 yields both high speed and
redundancy.

The disk array system set-up software, included with each option, is
menu-driven for ease in configuration. AST's disk array subsystem supports
Novell Netware, SCO UNIX and MPX operating systems. Drivers for Microsoft
Windows NT, IBM OS/2 and Sunsoft Solaris will be available from AST in the
future.

To complement the disk array option, AST also offers optional FastSCSI hard
drives in 200MB, 500MB and 1GB capacities.

"Here again, AST provides more flexibility by offering a wider range of
hard drives for its array subsystem than its competition," said
Fortmuller.

In aggressive support of the growing server and superserver market, AST
offers a complete hardware solution in its Premium SE and Manhattan SMP
line. Designed with the latest technology, the Premium SE servers feature
up to 8GB of internal hard drive storage, a standard high-performance
caching controller or the new optional AST multi-channel disk array;
FastSCSI hard drives mounted in slide-out trays for ease in maintenance;
SCSI backplanes for cable-free drive installation; AST FlashBIOS; and AST
Premium VGA high performance integrated video.

AST's Manhattan SMP fully symmetric multiprocessor offers corporate users a
cost-effective alternative to proprietary minicomputers, an
open-architecture platform for large multi-user UNIX environments or a
means to consolidate or add to critical LAN server environments. It is
designed with open architecture and a host of scalability and
high-availability features, including ECC circuitry for correction of
memory errors to protect data integrity and optional redundant power
supply for optimal fault resilience.

Corporate Background

AST Research Inc., a Fortune 500 company, holds a prominent market share of
desktop, file server and notebook computers. Product lines include the
Manhattan, Premium, Bravo, Advantage! and PowerExec. AST is represented in
more than 100 countries and operates 34 subsidiaries and sales offices. In
first quarter fiscal 1993, revenues rose 45 percent to $286.4 million from
$197.1 million in the comparable prior year quarter, while units shipped
were up by 70 percent. Also, AST reported record sales of $944.1 million
for the 1992 fiscal year ended June 27, 1992, compared to sales of $688.5
million for fiscal year 1991. 

AST corporate headquarters is located at 16215 Alton Parkway, Irvine,
Calif. 92718. Telephone: (714) 727-4141, (800) 876-4278. Fax: (714)
727-9355
  +---------------------------------------------------------------+
  |   From the America Online - New Product Information Services  |
  +===============================================================+
  | This information was processed from data provided by the      |
  | above mentioned company. For additional details, contact the  |
  | company at the address or telephone number indicated above.   |
  |    All submissions for this service should be addressed to    |
  |   BAKER ENTERPRISES, 20 Ferro Drive, Sewell, NJ 08080 U.S.A.  |
  +---------------------------------------------------------------+
