Corporate Press Releases - Hitachi Data Systems

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Hitachi Completes Storage Compatibility Testing for IBM Next-Generation Mainframe Environments

Successful Testing Results Highlight Maximum Availability and Reliability for Hitachi’s Enterprise Storage Products

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 11, 2008 — Hitachi Data Systems Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE: HIT) today announced the successful completion of compatibility and interoperability testing for the IBM System z10 Enterprise Class server, the IBM next-generation mainframe which IBM announced earlier this year.

Product interoperability testing included the Hitachi Universal Storage Platform V and the Hitachi Universal Storage Platform VM. The successful interoperability tests demonstrate how the combination of Hitachi’s enterprise-class storage systems with IBM’s next-generation mainframe can deliver the performance, reliability and availability for the most demanding applications. In addition, the testing completion results in a greater degree of compatibility and interoperability and makes it easier for customers to install both Hitachi Data Systems and IBM products in their environments.

Hitachi Data Systems continues to deliver virtualization solutions for mainframe storage environments, effectively enabling customers to store non-critical mainframe data on low-cost SATA systems. Hitachi’s approach allows enterprises to centrally deliver and manage storage services such as data migration and replication, as opposed to utilizing multiple isolated islands of storage to attempt to perform similar functions.

"Mainframe remains the mission-critical environment for many businesses today and because of this, the mainframe systems must meet the satisfaction of high reliability and availability,” said John Mansfield, senior vice president, Global Solutions Strategy and Development, Hitachi Data Systems. "Hitachi has a deep history in supporting mainframe environments and has seen increased customer satisfaction since agreeing to conduct interoperability testing. Meeting the business-critical data storage needs of our mainframe customers around the globe is priority number one. In addition, we offer them opportunities to further consolidate and reduce the number of disparate storage platforms they must manage.”

The successful testing was conducted for Hitachi's support of Enterprise System Connection™ (ESCON®), Fiber Connection (FICON®) and Fibre Channel Protocol (FCP) connectivity for select configurations of IBM System z10 Enterprise Class (z10 EC), z9 Enterprise Class (z9 EC), zSeries® 800, 900 and 990 systems running operating systems including z/OS® 1.9, z/VM 5.3, z/VSE4.1 and Linux on System z Novell SUSE SLES 9 and SLES 10.

As a result of successful completion of compatibility and interoperability testing, a Letter of Qualification was issued by IBM and posted on its Web site at:
http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/z/hardware/connectivity/products.

About Hitachi Data Systems
Hitachi Data Systems Corporation provides Services Oriented Storage Solutions that enable heterogeneous storage to be dynamically provisioned according to business needs and centrally managed via industry-leading Hitachi storage virtualization software. As an integral part of the Hitachi Storage Solutions Group, Hitachi Data Systems delivers storage infrastructure platforms, storage management software, and storage consulting services through direct and indirect channels in over 170 countries and regions. Its customers include nearly 60-percent of Fortune 100 companies. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.hds.com.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT / TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 390,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2007 (ended March 31, 2008) consolidated revenues totaled 11,226 billion yen ($112.2 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, logistics, materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.hitachi.com.

Press Contact:

Hitachi Data Systems
Laurie Spindler
(408) 970-7097
laurie.spindler@hds.com

Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide

David Friedman
(303) 634-2674
david.friedman@ogilvypr.com

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