BIOLOGY

CARLSBAD, Calif.-- Dot Hill today announced that its SANnet(R) II Fibre Channel storage systems have received certification from the Microsoft Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) for all Windows 2000 platforms and Microsoft Cluster Server (MSCS). The WHQL certification ensures that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) produce quality hardware and software that interact efficiently and optimally with Microsoft products. The MSCS certification ensures compatibility with Windows 2000 Advanced Server's clustering technology. SANnet II is now included on Microsoft's online Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) in the "Cluster/RAID" classification. "These certifications, added to those already received by our SANnet II SCSI products, validate our ongoing commitment to fully support the Windows platform," said Dana Kammersgard, Dot Hill's chief technology officer. "Our customers can be confident of compatibility when deploying any product in the SANnet II family in a Windows environment." Storage devices must pass rigorous tests to be placed on Microsoft's Hardware Compatibility List, certifying that they will operate with all native Windows drivers included in the Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2000 Advanced Server and Windows 2000 Datacenter Server platforms. In addition to achieving these hardware certifications, SANnet II storage products have been tested by independent labs in extreme environments to attain Network Equipment Building Systems (NEBS) Level 3 and MIL-STD-810F certifications. These test procedures have included a simulated level 8.3 earthquake, a 15,000-volt electrical discharge, 55 degree C ambient operating temperatures, and other physically demanding conditions. The ruggedness of Dot Hill's SANnet II products can be translated into less than 45 seconds of downtime each year.