Astute Networks Introduces ReliaBlade Technology - First-to-Market ATCA Blade Storage Solution for High-Availability Applications

Astute Networks Introduces ReliaBlade Technology - First-to-Market ATCA Blade
Storage Solution for High-Availability Applications

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Astute Networks, Inc., a leading provider
of bladed storage solutions optimized for the most demanding applications on
the edge of the network, today introduced its new ReliaBlade(TM) Technology,
the industry's first ATCA-based storage platform to eliminate single points of
failure.

Previously, the only way to implement a high-availability storage solution was
to sacrifice the benefits of ATCA and deploy a rack mount storage
configuration outside the blade chassis or complicate implementations with
host-based mirroring software. With ReliaBlade technology, end-users can now
realize the benefits of high-availability rack mount storage in a bladed ATCA
environment.

Astute Networks' ReliaBlade technology provides several advantages over
external RAID arrays including:

-- Simplified management - The storage system can be managed by the ATCA
shelf manager and applications just like any other ATCA component.
This
eliminates the need for users to learn complex storage applications to
provision, monitor and manage their storage resources.
-- Simplified system design - Because the Astute Networks storage blades
communicate with the ATCA servers via the midplane's 10Gb Ethernet
fabric, the need for expensive Fibre Channel RTMs or AMCs is
eliminated.
This significantly reduces acquisition and deployment costs while
concurrently improving system availability.
-- Simplified cabling - If a rack mount Fibre Channel storage array is
used
with ATCA servers, two cables are needed for each server that connects
to the storage array. By comparison, an Astute Networks storage
implementation using either two internal JBODs or one external JBOD
only
requires four SAS cables. This greatly simplifies system deployments,
improves system availability and significantly reduces the likelihood
of
cabling errors during maintenance.
-- Fully configured system solutions - By using Astute Networks'
ReliaBlade
technology with internal JBODs, network equipment providers and
military
systems integrators can build-up, deploy and ship fully configured
systems inside a single ATCA chassis. This significantly reduces
system
deployment costs and time, thus providing a competitive advantage.

-- Significant reduction in space, weight and power - Astute Networks
Caspian Edge Storage Blades significantly reduce the physical and
power
footprint of the storage system in the mobile switching center,
central
office or on the battlefield. This is done without compromising on
environmental performance and ruggedization. Astute Networks Caspian
storage blades are the only ATCA storage products using rotating media
that have passed Mil-Spec, NEBS Level 3 and ETSI certifications
without
requiring exceptions for high temperature operation (over 40 degrees
Celsius).

"With the introduction of ReliaBlade technology, our customers can achieve
high-availability storage functionality without sacrificing the benefits of
ATCA," said Mike Heumann, vice president, sales and marketing, Astute
Networks, Inc. "ReliaBlade technology represents a new paradigm that for the
first time provides the same level of fault tolerance, system availability,
reliability and performance of rack mount servers with the simplicity and
smaller footprint of bladed technology."

About Astute Networks, Inc.
Astute Networks is the leading provider of bladed storage solutions for edge
applications such as Telecom Network Control, IPTV/VoD, Military C4I, and
video surveillance. Our focus is to provide the most reliable storage
platforms with the highest performance, greatest rack densities, and power
efficiencies - while being easy to deploy and maintain. Our solutions enable
you to achieve lower lifecycle costs, faster time to market and higher
competitiveness for you and your company. Astute Networks is located in San
Diego, California and is backed by venture capital firms including Tallwood
Venture Capital, Sevin Rosen Funds, Scale Venture Partners, KeyNote Ventures,
U.S. Venture Partners and Narra Venture Capital. Additional information is
available at www.astutenetworks.com. Astute Networks - Edge Storage Made
Simple(TM).

Astute Networks and its logo and ReliaBlade are registered trademarks of
Astute Networks, Inc.

SOURCE Astute Networks, Inc.

Kirsten Garvin of Astute Networks, Inc., +1-858-673-7700, ext. 258,
kgarvin@astutenetworks.com