Data Robotics Introduces First iSCSI SAN That Manages Itself

SANTA CLARA, CA--(Marketwire - November 23, 2009) - Data Robotics, Inc., the company that delivers the best data storage experience ever, today announced DroboElite, the first iSCSI SAN storage that manages itself. DroboElite is a powerful and flexible business class data storage solution that brings Data Robotics' award-winning BeyondRAID technology to a broader range of small and medium businesses (SMBs). The fastest Drobo to date, DroboElite features a new hardware architecture that includes an enhanced processing engine and dual high-speed iSCSI interfaces for 150 percent of the performance of previous Drobo models. True multi-host support with LUN affinity allows small and medium businesses with limited IT resources to simplify management and reduce costs by consolidating storage across multiple servers.

"We've been using Data Robotics storage for several years because it is so simple to use and keeps our data safe. The new DroboElite solution takes Data Robotics' technology to the next level. It enables us to pool storage capacity across several servers, and the Smart Volume technology makes it easy to efficiently provision, reclaim, and re-provision storage across our business environment," said Tarun Chachra, CTO at KSL Media.

DroboElite delivers automated capacity expansion and one-click single- or dual-drive redundancy for optimal data protection for Windows, Mac and Linux machines. The new system extends the number of Smart Volumes -- Data Robotics' unique thin provisioning that pulls storage from a common pool of drives -- so that users can now create up to 255 virtual storage volumes, making DroboElite an ideal solution for companies that require storage solutions that can scale with their infrastructure.

"As SMBs mature they typically deploy multiple servers in both virtualized and non-virtualized configurations, creating a need for storage that is easy to manage but has the flexibility to continually grow as the server mix becomes increasingly complex," said Benjamin S. Woo, vice president, enterprise storage systems, at industry analyst firm, IDC. "A unique thin provisioning approach like Data Robotics' Smart Volume technology gives companies optimal use of their existing storage and allows IT managers to more effectively manage their entire IT network without wasting time and money on storage management."

DroboElite Features and Benefits

--  Multi-host Support -- Companies with multiple servers can easily add
    or consolidate storage by connecting the DroboElite into their existing
    TCP/IP network and utilizing the industry-standard iSCSI protocol.
--  Fastest Throughput of any Drobo Solution -- Enhancements such as
    multiple stream optimization and dual Gigabit Ethernet interfaces for high-
    speed iSCSI deliver best-in-class performance.
--  Tested VMware-ready Features -- With dual iSCSI ports and the ability
    to create up to 255 Smart Volumes, DroboElite can support growing VMware
    environments and advanced VMware functionality including VMotion, Storage
    VMotion, snapshots, and high availability.
--  8-Drive Capacity with Instant Capacity Expansion to 16TB and Beyond --
    DroboElite ensures continuous data access by automatically expanding data
    capacity and enabling IT managers to efficiently mix and match drive
    brands, capacities, and speeds.
--  Advanced Thin Provisioning -- Smart Volumes allow companies to create
    new volumes in seconds and manage them over time by pulling storage from a
    common pool rather than a specific physical drive allocation. Smart Volumes
    are also file system aware which allows deleted data blocks to be
    immediately returned to the pool for future use.
--  Simplified Dual-Drive Redundancy -- Companies are protected against
    the simultaneous failure of up to two hard drives without losing access to
    their data.  With a single click, companies can switch back to single disk
    redundancy if capacity runs low without losing access to their data.
    

"Data Robotics' continued success is a testament to our providing the best data storage experience ever. Our products are exceedingly simple and straightforward to use while providing all of the features that SMBs need to keep their data safe and accessible," said Dr. Geoff Barrall, CEO and founder of Data Robotics. "We can deliver cost savings up to 90 percent compared to other iSCSI solutions by combining cost-effective hardware with robust iSCSI features. The new DroboElite takes our solutions to a significantly higher level of performance and supports our mission of bringing the benefits of BeyondRAID technology to a much greater range of businesses."

Pricing and Availability

DroboElite is currently available at a starting price of $3,499 MSRP, with multiple configurations to $5,899 for a 16TB (8x 2TB) solution. DroboElite is available now from select partners worldwide and on www.drobo.com/droboelite. For a list of partners or to learn more about DroboElite, please visit www.drobo.com/droboelite.

About Data Robotics

Data Robotics, Inc., the company that delivers the best storage experience ever, develops automated storage products designed to ensure data is always protected, accessible, and simple to manage. The award-winning Drobo storage arrays are the first to provide the protection of traditional RAID without the complexity. The revolutionary BeyondRAID technology frees users from making the difficult and confining choice of "Which RAID level to deploy?" by providing an unprecedented combination of advanced features and automation, including single- and dual-drive redundancy, instant expansion, self-monitoring, data awareness, self-healing, and an easy-to-understand visual status and alert panel. For more information, visit Data Robotics at www.datarobotics.com.

Data Robotics, Drobo, Smart Volumes, and BeyondRAID are trademarks of Data Robotics, Inc., that may be registered in some jurisdictions. All other trademarks used are owned by their respective owners.

Contact Information: Media Contact: Elizabeth Zaborowska Bhava Communications 510-219-8127