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Storage Show Vendors Converge Around SANs, Backup: Page 2 of 3

Cisco is demonstrating a new software feature under development for its MDS 9000 line. The Data Tap Service provides a protocol-based interface between the Cisco's MDS 9000 SAN switches and third-party storage appliances, letting them access servers and storage devices on a storage network without needing to be in the direct data path.

Data Tap will be rolled into one of the line cards for the Cisco MDS 9000 switch, and will also be available on any of Cisco's modular switch chassis. Cisco, however, has not yet pinpointed a release for the new tool.

McData is touting its upcoming Sphereon Intelligent Switch, which will feature embedded storage applications that typically reside on host computers, storage appliances, or disk arrays. McData's switch will rely on storage processor technology from Aarohi, and use management software provided by StoreAge Networking Technologies for mirroring and copying data, for instance. McData says the shift to a more robust switch will reduce enterprise costs and boost the performance of storage networks.

Solid Data Systems debuted version 2.0 of its R2 Revolutionary Recovery software, which works with Microsoft Exchange to restore databases in the event of corruption or failure. R2 can recover e-mail for 5,000 users and more than 1 million messages in less than 10 minutes, according to the vendor.

R2 2.0 also has a new merged inbox for Outlook that displays the virtualized e-mail store, and sports an updated administrative interface using the Microsoft Management Console. The new release also includes support for both Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Enterprise Edition and Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition. R2 2.0 is available immediately; pricing begins at $49,000.