ACADEMIA

SAN ANTONIO, TX -- At SIGGRAPH 2002 in San Antonio, attendees will have an opportunity to preview a new high performance, end-to-end media Storage Area Networking (SAN) solution from SGI (NYSE: SGI), a leader in high performance computing technology. The SAN solution features disk array technology by LSI Logic Storage Systems, Inc., a technology leader in high performance, highly scalable storage for the open enterprise. This new solution meets the bandwidth and post-production requirements of the data intensive entertainment industry by delivering high-speed file sharing on a variety of platforms. The SGI SAN Server(TM) 1000 system integrates SGI® CXFS(TM), the industry's fastest shared filesystem for SANs, with proven technology to provide a media solution with heterogeneous file connectivity for Windows NT®, Windows® 2000, Solaris(TM) and IRIX® operating systems. File sharing improves workflow and reduces costs in several ways. When a single file is shared, the total amount of storage required and the cost of managing multiple versions are reduced. Additionally, time spent waiting for availability of a file is essentially reduced to zero by using Fibre Channel to move files, as opposed to transferring files over a local area network. SGI storage solutions are designed to go beyond consolidation to help customers improve their workflow through collaboration and fast data access. High-bandwidth interconnects and the CXFS shared filesystem are particularly valuable in the entertainment industry because they enable multiple users to access large media files from editing, compositing and graphic workstations, along with 2D/3D rendering of large animation and special effect files at Fibre Channel speeds. "We're particularly excited about this newest solution from SGI and LSI Logic Storage Systems because customers can use their existing infrastructures without compromising their data," said Chris Golson, senior director, media industries, SGI. "When it comes to media content it is imperative that all systems have access to data without delay, and SGI SAN Server 1000 using CXFS meets that demand." The combination of LSI Logic and SGI® technologies creates an open foundation for customers to leverage existing content stores and increase efficiencies, file access and seamless archival capabilities. "This new solution from SGI, leveraging LSI Logic storage systems technology, is important to the computer graphics industry, including post- production houses, special effects houses, animation studios and visualization farms, who need to share, store and manage vast amounts of rich content," said Greg Reitman, manager, global business development, entertainment and media, LSI Logic Storage Systems. "This solution clearly meets the need for open- enterprise, multi-platform support for file access within existing infrastructures, which is crucial for the vitality and growth of the entertainment industry."