Hitachi Introduces Industry's First Dynamic Multi-Dimensional Data Mo

Hitachi Introduces Industry's First Dynamic Multi-Dimensional Data Movement Solution; HiCommand Tiered Storage Manager Plus TagmaStore Universal Storage Platform Truly Enables Data Lifecycle Management

    Business Editors/High-Tech Writers
    Storage Networking World Spring 2005

    PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 12, 2005--

Company Continues to Rollout Application Optimized Storage Solutions That Simplify Storage Infrastructure Management
    Building on the large-scale virtualization capabilities of the Hitachi TagmaStore(TM) Universal Storage Platform, Hitachi Data Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT), today introduced breakthrough software innovations that enable companies to proactively move data across heterogeneous storage. The new Hitachi HiCommand(R) Tiered Storage Manager is the first software product to help users define and dynamically migrate data across multi-dimensional tiers of storage without disruption to the application itself.
    "Every storage supplier is talking about Information Lifecycle Management and the need to migrate data across tiers of storage, but most present the migration as a linear, uni-directional movement from fast and expensive to slow and cheap," said John McArthur, group vice president and general manager of Information Infrastructure Research, IDC. "In the real world, however, the storage attributes associated with each application and each business use of data vary over multiple dimensions. Price and performance are two, but certain applications also require varying levels of availability, security, privacy, and data authentication. Customers need to manage the migration of data as the access pattern changes. They also need to manage the replication of data, providing information access to applications that may require substantially different data management attributes. This multi-dimensional, tiered, heterogeneous storage environment is key to enabling customers to realize the value of their information assets."
    With the need to balance exponential growth in storage demand and stagnant budgets, while trying to meet regulatory requirements, many of today's IT departments are adopting a tiered storage strategy to optimize data placement and minimize cost. Whereas other vendors offer static tiers, HiCommand Tiered Storage Manager is the first software solution that enables a dynamic tiered storage strategy that moves data to storage media that satisfy the quality of service and cost requirements of the application. It recognizes and addresses the constantly changing requirements of applications allowing data to be frequently migrated between storage tiers to maintain an optimal location. IT managers also use migration to move stale or non-crucial data to lower-cost storage systems; to resolve performance, capacity, and usage bottlenecks; to manage equipment lease expirations and upgrades; and to retire expensive-to-operate systems.
    "In contrast to other vendors who are following a limited strategy -- built on a bunch of disparate point products -- Hitachi Data Systems is taking a more integrated, pragmatic, but continuously evolving, approach under the Application Optimized Storage strategy," said Jack Domme, vice president, storage management software, Hitachi Data Systems. "We're combining the powerful virtualization of the Universal Storage Platform and the management capabilities of the HiCommand software suite to make data movement across tiers of heterogeneous storage painless. With this combination, we deliver real benefit to the customer by closely matching the value of data to storage attributes and the needs of the business application, and by re-purposing older storage for archival roles."

    Hitachi HiCommand Suite Version 4.0: New Product Additions and Upgrades

    Tiered Storage Manager is the latest addition to the HiCommand software suite. This suite is a critical component of Hitachi Application Optimized Storage(TM) solutions, launched in May 2004, that enable customers to precisely match business application requirements to storage system attributes -- such as cost, performance, and data protection.
    "These enhancements to the HiCommand suite will help our Sun StorEdge 9990 system customers get the most out of their investments, and adds another element to Sun's tiered storage portfolio," said James Whitemore, vice president of Marketing, Network Storage, Sun Microsystems, Inc. "With their enterprise data centers and massive amounts of stored data, our StorEdge 9990 customers will be especially interested in Tiered Storage Manager, as they face some of the biggest data lifecycle management challenges of any storage user and are looking for ways to better manage the cost of very large, complex databases."
    Other additions and enhancements to the HiCommand suite announced today include:

--	HiCommand Replication Monitor simplifies configuration and management of all replication performed by Hitachi Data Systems storage systems, including the Universal Storage Platform, using a single interface for visualization, status indication, and user notification of copy functions.
--	Hitachi Data Systems offers HiCommand Backup Services Manager, powered by APTARE, to dramatically improve backup and recovery success. It optimizes the backup infrastructure for significant operational cost reduction, proves regulatory compliance down to the file-level, provides secure end-user initiated on-demand restores for high user satisfaction, and clarifies backup exposure and risk.

    Upgraded products include:

    -- HiCommand Device Manager V4.0, HiCommand Tuning Manager V4.0,
    HiCommand Protection Manager V4.0, which now provide added
    vendor and device support in Hitachi and heterogeneous
    environments, as well as more detailed measurement and
    monitoring capabilities of storage service levels.

    Hitachi Data Systems will demonstrate the new HiCommand Tiered Storage Manager along with the other new software offerings at Storage Network World, April 12-15 in Phoenix.
    For additional information on the enhanced Hitachi HiCommand Suite, please visit: http://www.hds.com/products_services/storage_mgmt _software/storage_area_management/ (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)

    About Hitachi Data Systems

    Hitachi Data Systems leverages global R&D resources to develop storage solutions built on industry-leading technology with the performance, availability and scalability to maximize customers' ROI and minimize their risk. By focusing on the customer's perspective as we apply the best hardware, software, and services from Hitachi and our partners, we uniquely satisfy our customers' business needs.
    With 2,900 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 326,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2003 (ended March 31, 2004) consolidated sales totaled 8,632.4 billion Yen ($81.4 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://www.hitachi.com.

    (C) 2005, Hitachi Data Systems Corporation. Hitachi Data Systems is registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a trademark and service mark of Hitachi, Ltd. HiCommand is a registered trademark of Hitachi, Ltd. TagmaStore, Universal Star Network and Application Optimized Storage are trademarks of Hitachi Data Systems Corporation. All other trade names, trademarks, and service marks used herein are the rightful property of their respective owners.

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CONTACT: Hitachi Data Systems Tony Hynes, 408-730-6639 tony.hynes@hds.com or Blanc & Otus Public Relations Quinn Daly, 415-856-5152 qdaly@blancandotus.com

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA ARIZONA JAPAN INTERNATIONAL ASIA PACIFIC TRACK INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HARDWARE SOFTWARE TRADESHOW PRODUCT SOURCE: Hitachi Data Systems

Copyright Business Wire 2005