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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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For more
information contact:
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Pat Prather,
617-937-3910 ext. 1230
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prather@oai.com
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Optical Access
International Announces the
CD/Maxtet 1600:
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First 16-Drive
CD-ROM Server with Hot Swap
Technology
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WOBURN, MA (August 9, 1996)
Optical Access International (OAI)
announces the immediate availability of
the SCSIplexTM (patent pending), a SCSI-II
processor system. The SCSIplex is an
expander that enables seven SCSI devices
to occupy only one SCSI address, enabling
more SCSI devices to be connected to a
SCSI bus. OAI's breakthrough hot-swap
technology, SafeSwapTM, provides the
industry's first method for safely
securing all types of drives, including
CD-ROM drives, during a hot swap
procedure.
The SCSIplex is unique because it
provides more than just SCSI ID and LUN
expansion. The SCSIplex also supports
OAI's SafeSwap technology for hot-swapping
CD-ROM drives, an interactive alphanumeric
display panel and keypad for server
management, and active SCSI bus
termination for plug-and-play
installation.
The SCSIplex: high performance from
RISC technology
OAI's SCSIplex, a RISC-based SCSI
processor, solves the problems associated
with connecting large numbers of SCSI
drives together. Physical limitations
concerning the number of units, signal
degradation, and other problems are all
eliminated. The SCSIplex allows 7 CD
drives to utilize only 1 SCSI address.
One SCSIplex enables 7 SCSI devices
under a single SCSI ID. This provides 49
SCSI devices per SCSI bus. Each device
multiplexed by the SCSIplex is addressable
as an individual Logical Unit Number
(LUN), maintaining compatibility with most
software. Each address (ID) on a SCSI bus
may have up to 7 available LUNs, each of
which can be a separate SCSI device when
using a SCSIplex.
Performance is a key feature of the
SCSIplex. It utilizes a very high-speed
RISC processor and other components for
optimum throughput. Because the SCSIplex
is network operating system independent,
it supports Novell (NetWare, IPX/SPX),
Microsoft (Windows NT, NetBIOS/NetBEUI),
IBM (OS/2, LAN Workplace), Apple
(AppleShare, AppleTalk), Banyan (Vines)
and Unix (TCP/IP, NFS) networks.
Exclusive Hot Swap Capabilities with
SafeSwap
Hot swapping of defective drives is an
important feature in CD-ROM servers
because the server can be kept on-line and
network integrity maintained. The SCSIplex
supports hot swap with OAI's SafeSwap
feature. SafeSwap is technology built into
the SCSIplex's firmware that controls bus
traffic during a hot swap. SafeSwap
reduces the risk of server lock-up during
swapping procedures.
SafeSwap technology is uniquely
designed by OAI and supported by the
SCSIplex. Before SafeSwap, there was no
way to safely hot swap a CD-ROM drive.
Only SafeSwap regulates and monitors the
SCSI bus during a hot swap procedure to
guaranty against a server crash. With
SafeSwap, CD-ROM drives can be easily
replaced, virtually eliminating server
downtime and adding fault-tolerance to the
CD-ROM server.
Improved Installation, Configuration,
and Management Capabilities
The SCSIplex also supports active
termination and an optional display panel
with keypad for CD-ROM server
configuration and management. The
SCSIplex's on-board SCSI plug-and-play
termination software automatically detects
if the CD-ROM server is on the end of the
SCSI bus and, if so, provides active
termination, insuring greater data
integrity and eliminating the need to
worry about SCSI termination.
The SCSIplex improves the management of
CD-ROM servers. By providing technology
for an interactive alphanumeric display
panel with keypad, direct on-the-CD-ROM
server feedback of operational activity
and configuration status is obtained.
Another first-to-the-market exclusive
from OAI is IntellimountTM. Intellimount
provides for quick and easy installation
of the SCSIplex. Simply adjust 3 screws,
and the SCSIplex Intellimount bracket can
be changed from a 3 1/5" mount to a 5 1/4"
mount.
Key features of the SCSIplex include:
- up to 49 SCSI devices per host bus
- host network operating system
independent
- supports most SCSI devices and
adapters
- mounts in standard 3 1/2" or 5 1/4"
drive bay (preconfigured for either
size)
- dimensions: 3 1/2" mode: 1.625" x
4.00" x 6.25" 5 1/4" mode: 1.625" x
5.75" x 6.25"
Availability, Pricing, and Information
The SCSIplex 7:1 SCSI ID expander is
available immediately. Single unit pricing
starts at $685 (US SRP) for the 49 SCSI
devices per SCSI channel version.
For more information, contact OAI at
617-937-3910 or toll free at 800-433-5133
or by electronic mail at sales@oai.com or
from OAI's web site at http://www.oai.com.
About OAI
Optical Access International, Inc.
(OAI) is a leading developer of CD-ROM
networking software and hardware products
for Windows, Macintosh, DOS, Unix and OS/2
users on NetWare, Windows NT, LAN Manager,
AppleShare, and NFS networks. OAI's
products provide high-speed access to
CD-ROM discs in all fields of computer
applications. OAI is headquartered in
Woburn, Mass.
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