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Press Release

Rackable Systems Launches iSCSI Storage Target Appliance
for High Density, High Performance Data Center Deployments

-- High Value Alternative to Fibre Channel Delivers Availability and Scalability While Minimizing SAN Acquisition Cost and Deployment Burdens --

MILPITAS, CALIF. - December 13, 2004 - Rackable Systems, Inc., a leading provider of compute and storage servers for scale out data center deployments, today announced its new family of iSCSI storage targets. Immediately available on all Rackable Systems storage servers, iSCSI leverages standard Ethernet networking to provide the scalability, high-availability and performance benefits of an enterprise-class SAN—without the complexity and interoperability challenges of Fibre Channel. Rackable Systems' innovative storage server designs maximize density by providing up to 134 terabytes of storage in a single cabinet using patented back-to-back form factors.

"By implementing iSCSI-based SANs, companies can realize the advantages of centralized storage while maximizing their existing investments in Ethernet and IP-based technologies," said Geoffrey Noer, senior director of storage products at Rackable Systems. "Rackable Systems' iSCSI target appliances leverage our proven, open architecture approach and unique back-to-back mounting design—and tightly integrate Wasabi Systems' Storage Builder iSCSI software to deliver a scalable, high-performance solution."

"By leveraging industry-proven technologies such as Ethernet, TCP/IP and SCSI, iSCSI is positioned to become an effective means for companies to deploy lower cost networked storage," said Brad Nisbet, storage program manager at IDC. "IP-based SANs are emerging as an attractive alternative to Fibre Channel, and Rackable Systems has developed a key strategy for bringing iSCSI to customers looking for simple and cost-effective storage."

"By mirroring two Rackable Systems S3009-iSCSI servers located in separate data centers, we are able to leverage our existing Ethernet network to provide storage to our user community that is both high performing and highly reliable," said Dustin Machi, manager of the Core Computational Facility at Virginia Bioinformatics Institute. "As our storage demands continue to increase, iSCSI provides the scalability to satisfy our storage needs without jeopardizing our storage budget."

Key Features and Benefits

• Top-tier, industry-standard components provide high-end performance and availability at economical cost
• High density levels achieved with back-to-back cabinet design, supporting up to 24 hot-swap drives per 3U of rack space
• Tightly integrated with Wasabi Systems Storage Builder™ 1500i for iSCSI software
• Intuitive and easy to use Graphical User Interface for storage configuration and management
• Leverages existing Ethernet networks, providing built-in investment protection
• Support for clustered servers using a shared iSCSI storage resource
• Compatible with Windows and Linux hosts using standard iSCSI initiators
• Servers include enterprise-grade 100 percent duty cycle SATA drives
• Reduced SAN management training requirements enable fast deployment
• Ideal for a variety of applications, including video streaming, rich media archives and near-line storage
  

Pricing and Availability
All Rackable Systems storage servers are immediately available as iSCSI target appliances. Servers range from the ultra-dense, half-depth S3012 server to the S3116 enterprise-oriented server featuring redundant power and cooling fans. With a list price as low as US$3 per gigabyte in a 3 terabyte system, a wide variety of configurations is available at accessible entry costs. For further information, please contact Rackable Systems at 408-240-8300 or visit www.rackable.com.

About Rackable Systems' Storage Solutions
Rackable Systems' storage servers offer a cost-effective solution for customers with high-capacity storage requirements. Like its compute server offerings, Rackable Systems' storage products offer flexible configurations tailored to customers' unique data center environments. With density levels of up to 336 drives per cabinet and 134 terabytes of storage, Rackable Systems' broad range of storage servers are available as NAS appliances, file servers and application servers—and now as iSCSI target appliances. Leveraging an open architecture approach and industry-standard components, Rackable Systems' storage servers are available in both half-depth and full-depth form factors, offering a lower total cost of ownership with the benefit of world-class customer support.

About Rackable Systems
Rackable Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of compute and storage servers for scale out data center deployments. The company's patented server designs feature key competitive advantages in the areas of density, thermal efficiency, serviceability, power distribution and remote management. Driven by a fierce commitment to superior innovation and customer service, Rackable Systems is one of North America's top server vendors. Founded in 1999 and based in Milpitas, California, Rackable Systems' customers include Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, nVidia, Tellme Networks, Toshiba America Electronic Components, U.C.S.C. Human Genome Project, Webex and Yahoo!.

To learn more about Rackable Systems, visit www.rackable.com, call 408-240-8300, or email info@rackable.com.

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