Network Appliance Achieves Designed for Windows Logo Qualification for iSCSI Multipath Solution

<p>Network Appliance delivers first Microsoft MPIO solution for iSCSI infrastructure</p>
<p>Network Appliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTAP) has announced Microsoft qualification of Microsoft Multipath Input/Output (MPIO) for iSCSI as part of the Microsoft Designed for Windows Logo Qualification Program. Using MPIO with iSCSI, customers can deploy an IP SAN not only for workgroup and departmental data, but also for mission-critical data requiring the highest levels of scalability, availability and failover protection. Microsoft-qualified MPIO technology was previously available only for Fibre Channel SAN environments. NetApp is the first to bring to market Microsoft MPIO for iSCSI infrastructures.</p>
<p>“Using iSCSI with NetApp storage systems, Microsoft MPIO and Microsoft Clustering Services makes it highly appropriate for enterprise-class deployments,” said Patrick Rogers, Vice President of Marketing at Network Appliance. “Working with Microsoft on a variety of iSCSI initiatives, including offering Microsoft MPIO capability for IP SANs, yields tremendous value to our mutual customers as they leverage their Windows storage investments in new and exciting ways, especially for Microsoft Exchange Server and SQL Server environments.”</p>
<p>MPIO is the ability to use more than one physical path to access a storage device, providing improved system reliability and availability via fault tolerance or load balancing of I/O traffic. In the case of storage management, where the preservation of data is vital, MPIO used in conjunction with iSCSI provides extra support points that can protect against data loss or system failure. Microsoft’s qualification of Microsoft MPIO and NetApp iSCSI storage products delivers a standard and interoperable path for communication between NetApp storage products and the Windows platform. Microsoft MPIO for Fibre Channel and IP SANs is available to customers using NetApp SnapDrive software.</p>
<p>“Customers want greater choice when building high-quality, highly available network storage systems,” said Claude Lorenson, Technical Product Manager, Windows Server Division at Microsoft Corp. “NetApp integration of Microsoft’s MPIO solution with iSCSI and Designed for Windows Qualification of the NetApp MPIO iSCSI solution will allow businesses of all sizes to take advantage of existing Windows investments to improve the IT value and operational efficiency of their networked storage systems with rigorously tested solutions, ensuring a positive user experience.”</p>
<p>Microsoft qualification of Microsoft MPIO and NetApp iSCSI storage products offers assurance to customers that the combined solution has undergone rigorous testing to ensure robust and effective Microsoft SAN deployments. The Designed for Windows logo qualification is required before any storage system can be considered qualified by Microsoft for use in SAN environments.</p>
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<p>Notes for Editors</p>
<p>About Network Appliance
Network Appliance is a world leader in unified storage solutions for today’s data-intensive enterprise. Since its inception in 1992, Network Appliance has delivered technology, product and partner firsts that continue to drive ‘The evolution of storage™”. Information about Network Appliance™ solutions and services is available at www.netapp.com.</p>
<p>NetApp is a registered trademark and Network Appliance, SnapDrive and The evolution of storage are trademarks of Network Appliance, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other brands or products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders and should be treated as such.</p>
<p>For further information please contact –
Harry Christian
Network Appliance, Inc.
tels + 61 (0) 2 9779 5600 &amp; + 61 (0) 407 100 666</p>
<p>Press contact –
Derek Evans
Gotley Nix Evans Pty Ltd
tels +61 (0) 2 9957 5555 &amp; +61 (0) 410 601 673
pr@gne.com.au</p>

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