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Finisar and Network Appliance Collaborate to Accelerate the Deployment of IP-Based SANs
Austin, Texas - August 11, 2003 -- FinisarCorporation (NASDAQ: FNSR), a technology leader in gigabit fiber opticsolutions for high-speed data networks, today announced that MedusaLabs, an independent group of Finisar, was expanding itsPre-Qualification Testing Program to support multi-vendor iSCSIsolutions. The iSCSI qualification tests were developed in closecooperation with Network Appliance, Inc.,, a leading provider ofenterprise network storage solutions.
The testing program isdesigned to verify proper functionality and operation between iSCSIinitiator and iSCSI target hardware. These unbiased and independentlydesigned test suites monitor product functionality, stability, dataintegrity, and performance while being performed in optimal anderror-induced states. Error injection and recovery verify that theproducts are up to the most stringent data-center requirements. Medusacan also perform an audit of software for an assessment of user-relatedissues.
"This program was created to verify that vendors areable to deliver high-quality and reliable iSCSI products that integrateeffortlessly to meet the storage needs of enterprises today andtomorrow," said Mark Lanteigne, Manager, Compliance Lab and co-founderof Medusa Labs. "We are honored to collaborate with storage industryleader Network Appliance to create this program."
Testing willbe carried out at Finisar's Medusa Labs facility in Austin, Texas. Alltests use Finisar's industry-leading SAN protocol analysis and testequipment, including error injectors, bit error rate testers and datagenerators. Finisar's protocol analysis tools allow for extremelyaccurate and detailed analysis of iSCSI and Fibre Channel traffic.These tools utilize Finisar's SANMetrics "expert" software, which siftsthrough vast amounts of collected data and automatically analyzestraces for errant behaviors. Finisar's test tools have the ability tostress specific and unique areas of enterprise systems, includingiSCSI, Fibre Channel, PCI, memory subsystems and processors.
"We believe that iSCSI adapters will plug and playjust like any other Ethernet components as a result of carefullywritten specifications, a well-understood layered software model andregular plugfests," said Mark Santora, Senior Vice President ofmarketing at Network Appliance. "This program from an industry leaderin independent third-party testing enables iSCSI adapter and iSCSIstorage vendors to self-qualify onto each other's support matrix. Webelieve this will accelerate the deployment of multivendor iSCSIsolutions in production environments."
About Finisar
Finisar Corporation (NASDAQ: FNSR) is a technologyleader for fiber optic subsystems and network performance test systems.These products enable high-speed data communications for networking andstorage applications over Gigabit Ethernet local area networks (LANs),Fibre Channel storage area networks (SANs), and metropolitan areanetworks (MANs) using both IP and SONET/SDH-based protocols. TheCompany's headquarters is in Sunnyvale, California, USA.
www.finisar.com.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
The statements contained in this pressrelease that are not purely historical are forward-looking statementswithin the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of1934, as amended, including statements regarding Finisar Corporation'sexpectations, beliefs, intentions, or strategies regarding the future.All forward-looking statements included in this document are based uponinformation available to Finisar Corporation as of the date hereof, andFinisar Corporation assumes no obligation to update any suchforward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risksand uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differmaterially from those projected. These and other risks relating toFinisar Corporation's business are set forth in Finisar Corporation'sForm 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July29, 2003, and other reports filed from time to time with the Securitiesand Exchange Commission.
Press Contacts:
Terry Hunt
Editorial
Finisar Corporation
(408) 400-1008
Terry.hunt@finisar.com
Shelby Palmer
Investor Relations
Finisar Corporation
(408) 542-5050
shelby.palmer@finisar.com
