Bridgeworks Target Cofio

Bridgeworks-Cofio OEM deal provides iSCSI and Fibre Channel software target drivers for Virtual Tape Libraries

4th December 2007

Christchurch, UK - Bridgeworks, a leading SAN bridging supplier and Cofio, a Virtual Tape Library (VTL) software supplier, today announced an OEM agreement that will see Cofio incorporate Bridgeworks iSCSI and Fibre Channel (FC) target mode software drivers into its flagship ViStor VTL product range.

ViStor VTL is Linux-based software, with standard iSCSI protocol and no special hardware requirements. Bridgeworks worked closely with Emulex to add the necessary Fibre Channel host bus adapter (HBA) support.

It was also important that ViStor work on standard components. Cofio wanted to continue using commercial off the shelf (COTS) products, so it could stay focused on selling its software package rather than an integrated VTL appliance. End users and system integrators can buy ViStor and turn existing and readily available hardware into a VTL.

Bridgeworks' integration efforts helped Cofio reduce its system development costs and time to market for the FC addition to its product.

Cofio's ViStor VTL can now function with both standard iSCSI and Fibre Channel protocols. The Bridgeworks target drivers present virtual tape libraries as either Fibre Channel or iSCSI devices to applications in a storage area network (SAN).

Bridgeworks' customers such as Cofio can significantly reduce their time to market by using proven Bridgeworks' interface software drivers in their products. They can concentrate on developing their core applications with confidence knowing that by partnering with Bridgeworks they can benefit from 25 years of designing and building software target drivers

“Cofio is delighted to be able to strengthen the integration of ViStor with SAN networks and protect our customers' data better and more easily,” said Tony Cerqueira, President and CEO of Cofio. “One of our key requirements was to use only commercial, off-the-shelf products. We chose the Bridgeworks technology because of its speed and Bridgeworks' ability to team with Emulex to provide our Fibre Channel connectivity support.”

“It was extremely satisfying to have enabled Cofio to integrate its ViStor virtual tape library with iSCSI and Fibre Channel networks,” said David Trossell, CEO of Bridgeworks. “The quality of Bridgeworks' technology is crucial as the speed and reliability of the code directly impacts the performance of the host application using it; Cofio's ViStor in this instance.”

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About Cofio Software, Inc.

Cofio Software is a privately held leading global provider of data protection storage software targeted at the large to medium enterprise market. Cofio's founders have a strong background in providing storage solutions that help make management of data easier. Cofio's flagship product, the ViStor Virtual Tape Library, emulates the behaviour of tape libraries and uses disk as its primary storage. Existing backup software accesses ViStor disk backup solutions the same way a physical tape library is accessed, but with much better performance. ViStor allows system administrators to quickly and efficiently backup and restore data. Cofio is a global supplier of storage software with offices in the US and Europe.

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.