Proven Promise SATA RAID Solutions for Desktop and Small Servers
Now Available in Host-Based Adapter Solutions
LAS VEGAS, Nev., NAB2003 Booth # C4275, April 7, 2003 -- Promise Technology, Inc., originator and leading supplier of ATA RAID solutions, today announced the availability of two PCI Serial ATA (SATA) RAID adapters for Serial ATA/150 drives, the FastTrak S150 TX2plus and the FastTrak S150 TX4. With over one million Promise SATA RAID solutions already integrated on leading OEM motherboards in Taiwan, the FastTrak S150 TX family of PCI adapters addresses the growing availability of Serial ATA drives by delivering Promise's proven ATA RAID 0/1/0+1 technology in a PCI card solution.
The new FastTrak S150 TX family of Serial ATA RAID controllers builds upon Promise Technology's leadership in ATA RAID. From the first ATA RAID controllers launched by Promise in 1997, Promise has delivered solutions that effectively address the true needs of the storage market with timely products that combine features and value in solutions designed for broad market acceptance.
Promise has shipped over five million ATA RAID controllers through many world class top tier OEM PC vendors and worldwide premier distributors, and out of that number, over one million controllers are SATA RAID 0/1 products embedded on motherboards from leading vendors in Taiwan. The FastTrak TX PCI host bus adapter line leverages the same proven RAID software engine, while integrating more features.
The FastTrak S150 TX2plus provides a hybrid solution that combines two independent SATA RAID ports for two SATA drives and one Ultra/133 ATA RAID port for support of up to two Ultra/133 ATA drives (master-slave combination). This unique solution provides a SATA RAID upgrade path for current ATA/133 and ATA/100 storage users, extending their investment in ATA/133 and ATA/100 hard drives.
For high-capacity storage users, the Promise FastTrak S150 TX4 enables a high-performance all-Serial ATA RAID configuration with four independent SATA ports for up to four Serial ATA/150 drives. By combining the FastTrak S150 TX4 with the highest capacity drives currently available, users can build cost-effective, high-performance RAID 0 arrays with huge capacities as large as one terabyte.
"As the pioneer of ATA RAID and the leading provider of ATA solutions, Promise has always championed the importance of RAID on desktop systems as well as entry level servers and the viability of the ATA RAID on these platforms. We consider SATA RAID product announcements from premier SCSI RAID vendors who have argued against the viability of ATA RAID as the ultimate endorsement of our vision, finally agreeing with us and endorsing the viability of ATA RAID," said Sam Sirisena, vice president of sales and marketing worldwide, Promise Technology, Inc. "Through our leadership in ATA RAID, Promise has driven ATA RAID from its conceptual launch in 1997 and transformed it into a standard feature on most high-end mother boards by offering OEMs and users right products at right time and at right price. With Promise's FastTrak S150 family of Serial ATA RAID PCI host bus adapters, users can now experience enhanced performance and easier configuration, further reinforcing the valuable price-performance benefits of implementing next-generation SATA RAID."
"By eliminating many of the challenges traditionally associated with delivering high-performance RAID, Serial ATA holds tremendous potential for the future of multi-drive implementations using the ATA interface," said Roger Cox, chief analyst for Server Storage and RAID, Gartner Dataquest. "As an emerging standard, Serial ATA is well positioned for increased competition with SCSI products, and products that take advantage of the interface are eagerly awaited."
Promise Technology's FastTrak S150 TX family of Serial ATA RAID solutions build upon a history of commitment to ATA RAID. More than an simply an addition to a controller product line or another integrated circuit, the FastTrak S150 controller family is an integration of Promise's experience in interface controllers, RAID engines, and the unique requirements of ATA RAID, delivered in an accessible, cost-effective storage solution.
Promise's FastTrak S150 controller family leverages the company's hardware and software expertise to maximize performance in an entry-level, value-oriented RAID system. The FastTrak S150 controller family employs Promise Technology's single-chip SATA controller ASIC with an integrated BIOS that automatically recognizes which type of drive is in place and optimizes performance, delivering data transfer speeds up to 266MB/sec.
To assure faster transfers, Promise cards use sophisticated data handling techniques to make data transfers more efficient and minimize overloading the host system CPU and slowing system response. Promise FastTrak controllers also include user-friendly FastBuild software to simplify installation and Promise Array Management (PAM) software, a professional-level visual administration tool to monitor and maintain the storage subsystem.
The FastTrak S150 TX2plus controller lists for $109 (MSRP) and the FastTrak S150 TX4 controller lists for $139 (MSRP). Product is shipping now and is available through our excellent coverage of worldwide distributors and several world class OEM vendors.
More about Serial ATA
Serial ATA is the anticipated evolution of the ATA interface standard incorporating significant technical enhancements that make it ideal for RAID implementations. Serial ATA uses cables that are up to one meter long and substantially thinner, eliminating cable-routing problems and increasing air circulation. Serial ATA implements technology that improves data transmission, and Serial ATA drives deliver the highest throughput of any ATA drive currently available, supporting data throughput as high as 150 MBytes/sec. Also, Serial ATA uses a point-to-point configuration topology, eliminating master/slave bus sharing, simplifying drive configuration, and improving multi-drive system throughput.
About Promise Technology, Inc.
Promise Technology is the originator and global leader of ATA RAID, using cost-effective ATA technology to design and manufacture fast, reliable data protection and storage alternatives to SCSI RAID systems. With its history of ATA product and technology development, Promise Technology is the recognized world leader in ATA controllers, ATA RAID cards and ATA RAID subsystems. Promise Technology maintains ongoing product development relationships with leading ATA hard drive manufacturers and server and storage OEMs. Headquartered in Milpitas, CA, the company maintains offices in Europe, Taiwan, and China.