Bridgeworks first to market with iSCSI to SAS protocol bridge

New architecture opens door to better and more cost-effective storage interconnect solutions

31st July 2007

Christchurch, UK - Bridgeworks a leader in data storage connectivity solutions, announced today that it is launching the world's first iSCSI to Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) protocol bridge: The launch of the Potomac ESAS2800 is the first step in a major expansion of the Bridgework's product range. The new products, which will share a common platform, have been designed to support the rapid adoption of new protocols together with those that already exist including iSCSI, Fibre Channel, SCSI and SAS. The Common Platform Architecture (CPA) will also allow rapid adaptation of products to meet specialised OEM needs.

The iSCSI and SAS markets are booming, and recent IDC figures indicate that iSCSI-based storage will be 30% of the SAN market by 2009. Given that SAS is becoming the connectivity format of choice for the enterprise, the Bridgeworks' ES2800 will be ideal for those customers, end users and OEMs wishing to use these technologies together.

David Trossell, CEO of Bridgeworks states, “We have always prided ourselves on opening up the SAN market to those users that historically felt excluded because of high prices. Our iSCSI to SAS bridge with its CPA architecture is the first product in our new broad range of lower cost high performance SAN bridging solutions.”

What is Potomac ESAS2800?

Bridgeworks Potomac ESAS2800 enables user to connect SAS enabled devices such as Disk Arrays, Tape Drives and Tape Libraries to IP storage SANs using the iSCSI protocol.

Overview of the revolutionary Common Platform Architecture The CPA approach gives Bridgeworks a Lego-style building block approach to its product design. The use of a common core together with modular software and hardware allows differing protocols to be assembled allowing a myriad of different product configurations and offers a high degree of customisation for OEM customers.

A golden opportunity for end users and the channel alike Stuart Bridger, CTO of Europe's leading storage networking distributor ACAL says, “Bridgeworks have been building up an impressive and innovative bridging portfolio which has been embraced by end-users and our resellers alike. Their introduction of the world's first iSCSI to SAS bridge will ensure that Bridgeworks will continue to be at the forefront for iSCSI products in the SAN market.”

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About Bridgeworks

Bridgeworks has over twenty five years experience of providing innovative connectivity solutions to both OEMs and end users in the storage market.

Bridgeworks solutions help end users to maximise the return on their investments in storage infrastructures and storage devices. They offer the highest levels of performance, reliability, flexibility and unmatched value.

The company has developed a wide range of solutions for OEMs and integrators that reduce time to market as well as enhancing their own product offerings.

From their UK base, Bridgeworks has helped businesses worldwide in government, education, financial and other vertical sectors to adopt the latest connectivity standards by making their existing storage systems compatible with evolving technologies such as Fibre Channel, SCSI, SAS and iSCSI without disruption and with minimal investment.