ORLANDO, Fla. -- Oct. 26, 2004 -- Troika Networks Inc., the leading provider of network-based storage services solutions and enabling technologies, and Agere Systems (NYSE:AGR.A) (NYSE:AGR.B), the No. 1 provider of integrated circuits (ICs) for high-density storage solutions, today announced Troika's next generation of ReadyPath(TM) technology, a breakthrough hardware-based acceleration technology that will extend functionality and increase performance of data protection and storage management solutions and storage devices at a lower cost. Both Troika Networks and Agere Systems will offer new products based off Troika's ReadyPath technology next year.
Troika ReadyPath technology uniquely moves key data operations, traditionally performed by software with general-use processors, into silicon-based hardware, which dramatically accelerates the performance and expands the functionality of next-generation storage services. Troika will offer network-based platforms and blade products based on its new ReadyPath technology beginning next year. In addition, Troika ReadyPath technology will be offered exclusively through Agere Systems as a silicon-based standard product called a Storage Network Controller to storage OEMs and storage network product manufacturers for integration into their solutions.
"The continuing pressure on enterprise customers to improve data protection and better utilize storage resources is driving a new class of solutions that will expand protection abilities and reduce management complexity," said Arun Taneja, founder of the Taneja Group. "Many of these applications will depend upon hardware-based acceleration technology in order to meet the performance and scalability needs of enterprise customers."
In contrast to alternative approaches, Troika ReadyPath technology moves well beyond basic virtualization and data movement functionality offering intelligent I/O processing capabilities to support high performance applications such as continuous data protection, virtual tape and storage array aggregation. Troika's new ReadyPath technology offers unparalleled performance with 4 Gb/s and 10 Gb/s throughput, sub 5 microsecond packet processing for the most complex of operations and supports both Fibre Channel and iSCSI interfaces. In addition, Troika ReadyPath technology is the industry's most highly integrated hardware acceleration technology approach, enabling storage OEMs and solution providers to deliver lower cost solutions in smaller form-factors not previously possible.
"From the outset, Troika's ReadyPath technology was designed to enable and enhance a broad range of new storage services," said Bill Terrell, CEO and founder of Troika Networks. "ReadyPath changes the game for our ISV and OEM partners because for the first time they have a single affordable technology platform on which to deliver a variety of advanced capabilities in a variety of form-factors to meet their customers' exact needs."
"Agere's expertise in delivering highly integrated ASICs will expediently provide a PCI-X based SAN subsystem solution integrating advanced multi-channel 4 Gb/s Fibre Channel SerDes," said Necip Sayiner, vice president of the enterprise and networking division of Agere Systems.
Troika ReadyPath Technology Enhances a Broad Range of Storage Services
Troika ReadyPath technology can be integrated into a wide variety of storage solutions, including storage arrays, tape libraries, network products and server-based appliances. In addition, ReadyPath supports a large spectrum of services, including data management and data protection, storage virtualization and aggregation, and storage networking as detailed below.
-- Data Management and Protection: With Troika ReadyPath technology, critical data intensive operations are executed using high-speed hardware to provide superior performance and reliability. ReadyPath technology integrates a wide range of data management and protection services such as snapshot, mirroring, compression and journaling to support backup, replication, virtual tape and disaster recovery applications.
-- Storage Virtualization and Aggregation: Troika ReadyPath technology offers sophisticated virtualization capabilities for aggregating arrays and backside disk, simplifying management of the storage device and offering an easy approach to rapid volume initialization. ReadyPath technology also extends NAS infrastructure access to SAN networks, increasing utilization of shared storage.
-- Advanced Storage Networking: Troika ReadyPath technology adds intelligence and extends functionality to network devices to enhance key networking functions such as SAN routing, SAN aggregation, and multi-SAN management.
For more information on Troika's ReadyPath Technology visit http://www.troikanetworks.com.
About Troika Networks
Troika Networks provides integrated solutions, application hosting platforms and embedded technologies purpose-built to enable enterprise customers to dramatically improve data protection and management capabilities. Troika solutions provide a cost-effective approach for implementing SAN independent disaster recovery, backup and volume management functionality and are based upon Troika's exclusive Accelera(TM) Network Storage Services Platforms and ReadyPath(TM) Technology. Troika's solutions are available through leading OEMs and value-added resellers worldwide. For more information on Troika, Troika-based solutions and its enabling technologies, please visit http://www.troikanetworks.com or contact the company at info@troikanetworks.com
About Agere Systems
Agere Systems is a global leader in semiconductors for storage, wireless data, and public and enterprise networks. The company's chips and software power a broad range of computing and communications applications, from cell phones, PCs, PDAs, hard disk drives and gaming devices to the world's most sophisticated wireless and wireline networks. Agere's customers include the top manufacturers of consumer electronics, communications and computing equipment. Agere's products connect people to information and entertainment at home, at work and on the road -- making personal broadband a reality. For more information on Agere's storage networking solutions, customers may visit Agere's Web site at www.agere.com or contact one of Agere's regional sales offices.
