OVERLAND PARK, Kan., July 8, 2003 - Sprint, along with Hitachi Data Systems and strategic alliance partner Cisco, has achieved a technical breakthrough that could have major implications on how customers deploy effective business continuity strategies. The telecommunications giant, along with its partners, has successfully tested asynchronous data replication over an IP network, using Fibre Channel over IP (FCIP) technology at a distance of more than 3,600 miles.
For customers, this proof-of-concept demonstration serves as a meaningful example of business continuity solutions they can deploy using technologies that are possible today.
"This could enable customers to replicate their mission-critical data at extremely remote locations while using their existing cost-effective IP connections, further protecting them from potential disasters that could occur at a company's headquarters," said Oliver Valente, vice president of Technology Development at Sprint. "Government regulations, for example, may soon require some companies, especially in the financial and healthcare markets, to be able to replicate their data at out-of-region locations. Until now, feasible distances for remote replication using this technology were typically in the 37- to 45-mile range, more of a metro-area scenario."
The demonstration was conducted using an FCIP connection originating from a Sprint lab located in Overland Park, Kan. Optical cross-connect devices at Sprint's Burlingame, Calif., lab created a continuous loop back to the Overland Park lab, simulating a point-to-point FCIP connection spanning 3,600 miles. The equipment used to create the link included private Sprint circuits, the Cisco MDS 9000 storage area network (SAN) switches with the Cisco MDS 9000 IP Storage Services modules and Hitachi Freedom Storage ® Lightning 9900 V Series systems, running Hitachi TrueCopy TM data replication software.
"What made this unique was the configuration that engineers at Sprint, Cisco and Hitachi Data Systems teamed to develop," Valente added. "It's the type of testing and teaming we are committed to doing. It's why Sprint, Cisco and Hitachi Data Systems are leaders in their respective industries at developing and putting into production applications and services that are designed to meet and surpass our customers' needs."
Already, Sprint is a leader in providing optical network solutions to its customers. For example, Sprint Optical Network Solutions can provide customers with managed wavelength transport and managed customer premise equipment to connect all of a customer's metro/region area campus locations for the transmission of business-critical protocols and applications. The Sprint Optical Network Solution also provides seamless access to the Sprint data backbone network to support a customer's wide area network applications.
"Cisco has always viewed FCIP as an enabling technology for cost-effective business continuity and disaster recovery solutions, especially over extended, wide-area distances," said Soni Jiandani, vice president of marketing for the Storage Technology Group at Cisco. "This demo is real-world proof of the value that network transport technologies such as FCIP can deliver in extending SAN traffic well beyond the data center environment."
"Hitachi Data Systems is keenly aware of the need to safeguard mission-critical data, not only locally, but also across long distances for disaster recovery and business continuance," said Marlene Woodworth, vice president and general manager of Global Marketing at Hitachi Data Systems. "We are pleased to demonstrate to the world that we have the technology today to deliver asynchronous data replication with ultimate reliability and maximum security to customers."
About Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. News and information are available at www.cisco.com.
Cisco MDS 9000 Family
Consisting of the Cisco MDS 9500 Series of Multilayer Directors and the Cisco MDS 9216 Multilayer Fabric Switch, the Cisco MDS 9000 Family provides a full line of products to meet requirements across storage networks of all sizes and architectures. With intelligent networking features such as multi-protocol/multi-transport integration, Virtual SANs (VSANs), advanced security, sophisticated debug/analysis tools and unified SAN management, as well as intelligent storage services such as network-based virtualization, the Cisco MDS 9000 Family ushers in a new era of storage networking.
About Hitachi Data Systems
Hitachi Data Systems is committed to enabling organizations worldwide to exploit the full potential of information. By following and deploying our TrueNorth(tm) strategy, we provide customers with a broad range of storage solutions to simplify, protect and optimize their information infrastructures. Our offerings include centralized and distributed storage systems and software, professional services, complemented by best-of-breed products through channel partners and industry alliances.
With 2,700 employees, Hitachi Data Systems conducts business through direct and indirect channels in the public, government and private sectors in over 170 countries. Its customers include more than 50 percent of Fortune 100 companies. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.hds.com.
About Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE: HIT), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company, with approximately 340,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2002 (ended March 31, 2003) consolidated sales totaled 8,191.7 billion yen ($68.3 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors, including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's Web site at http://global.hitachi.com.
About Sprint
Sprint is a global communications company serving more than 26 million business and residential customers in over 70 countries. With approximately 72,000 employees worldwide and nearly $27 billion in annual revenues, Sprint is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying state-of-the-art network technologies, including the United States' first nationwide all-digital, fiber-optic network and an award-winning Tier 1 Internet backbone. Sprint provides local voice and data services in 18 states and operates the largest 100-percent digital, nationwide PCS wireless network in the United States.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This news release includes certain forward-looking statements. Future performance cannot be ensured. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The words "estimate," "project," "intend," "could," "expect," "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Sprint, Cisco and Hitachi are not obligated to publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this press release or unforeseen events. The parties all provide detailed discussions of risk factors in their periodic SEC filings.
