AUTOMOTIVE

Interoperability allows customers to combine their SAN into an upgradeable, heterogeneous core-to-edge enterprise SAN solution that is centrally managed and accessed from a single console. The interoperable solution protects a customer's information and is fully upgradeable, eliminating the need to swap out existing equipment as storage requirements increase. With interoperability, IT staffs are more productive as they use a tested solution that not only ensures access to critical data needs but is also efficient and flexible. McDATA's 6000 Series Director is the only Director-class product available today that is interoperable with 90 percent of the current installed base of fabric switches - 600,000 fabric switch ports worldwide. "Interoperability of Fibre Channel switches and Director products enables Directors to function as high availability core devices in large SANs," said James Opfer, principal analyst at Gartner Dataquest. "With this solution, McDATA expands on its commitment to drive the industry to open systems in storage area networking," said Mike Gustafson, vice president of worldwide sales for McDATA. "Not only is this a breakthrough in terms of interoperability among vendors, it is also a breakthrough in terms of bringing value to the customer. Providing the customer a fully tested, upgradeable, multi-vendor SAN solution is a top priority for McDATA. We're able to deliver to the customer flexibility and better protection of their prior investments by allowing for legacy upgrades." "The solution is a landmark step in the drive toward open storage networking. Not only does it allow the customer to upgrade as their storage requirements grow, but it is also the only interoperable solution that is manageable through a single pane of glass," said Don Kleinshnitz, general manager, HP Scalable Network Solutions Division. "Customers now have greater investment protection of their current equipment, an enhanced ability to upgrade and a truly heterogeneous core-to-edge solution." For more information visit www.mcdata.com