AUSTIN, TX -- Crossroads Systems (Nasdaq:CRDS), a global provider of storage networking solutions, today introduced the Crossroads 8000 storage router and management software, which easily integrates SCSI storage devices into Fibre Channel SANs. The 8000 is the first in a new line of multi-protocol storage routers, designed to connect storage devices into Fibre Channel and iSCSI storage networks, and InfiniBand fabrics. "The Crossroads 8000 is designed to meet the real-world needs of businesses today, while paving the way for tomorrow's technologies," said Larry Sanders, president and chief operating officer at Crossroads. "The Crossroads Visual Manager(tm) (CVM(tm)) software increases intelligence in the SAN promising to simplify the next generation of storage applications, facilitate new storage services and reduce the cost of storage management." Storage router configuration and management is greatly simplified by the Crossroads 8000's embedded Web server and Crossroads Visual Manager (CVM) software. Through the CVM's Graphical User Interface, network administrators can view and alter the configuration and status of not only the storage router, but also of all the attached SCSI and Fibre Channel devices. Management tasks can be accomplished remotely and securely through a standard Web browser. With easier installation and ongoing manageability, end users and storage OEMs alike benefit from easier manageability and reduced service and support costs. "With the launch of the 8000 and CVM Management software, Crossroads has continued to differentiate themselves from the rest of the market. The 8000 enables customers to perform SAN based backup which allows for consolidation and centralization of backup, improves the efficiency and time for backups, and allows for seamless integration of tape libraries into the SAN. The 8000 is a great step forward in helping IT departments manage and protect their growing storage needs with SAN based backup," said Eric Sheppard, analyst at International Data Corporation. For more information visit www.crossroads.com