Features - Storage Innovations:

HITACHI SETS STANDARD FOR ENTERPRISE HARD DRIVE PERFORMANCE

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi GST)announced that it has completed a successful 4Gbps Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FCAL) data transfer between two fully integrated hard drive controllers. The demonstration effectively doubles the current industry standard FCAL interface speed of 2 Gbps and represents a significant milestone in the advancement of hard drive interface standards.

Hitachi GST expects to begin 4Gbps FCAL hardware exchanges and testing with other industry suppliers immediately. The joint testing is expected to result in system-level hardware compatibility, which is the first step to delivering 4Gbps FCAL products to the market place. Server and storage systems that integrate 4Gbps FCAL components are expected to provide the ultimate in system performance and reliability. FCAL-based hard disk drives are expected to be used in storage area network, file sharing, workgroup and scientific/engineering environments.

Design engineers demonstrated FCAL loop synchronization at 4Gbps between two fully integrated Hitachi GST hard disk controllers. The demonstration included the ability to initiate and complete LIP (Loop Initialization Procedure) as well as Port and Process Logins. With the loop established, both commands and data were transferred at 4Gbps speed. The 4Gbps FCAL specification is designed to allow for a data transfer of up to 400MB per port and up to 800MB in a dual port environment.

"This performance achievement enables Hitachi to begin the year on an extremely high note," said Fumio Kugiya, general manager of the Server Business Unit at Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. "With this move, Hitachi is reclaiming performance leadership in the enterprise hard drive segment and setting the stage for many exciting things to come in 2004."

About Hitachi Global Storage Technologies

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies was founded in 2003 as a result of the strategic combination of Hitachi's and IBM's storage technology businesses. The company's vision is to enable users to fully engage in the digital lifestyle by providing access to large amounts of storage capacity in formats suitable for the office, on the road and in the home.

The company offers customers worldwide a comprehensive range of storage products for desktop computers, high-performance servers and mobile devices. For more information on Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, please visit the company's Web site at www.hgst.com.

About Hitachi Ltd

Hitachi Ltd, headquartered in Tokyo, is a leading global electronics company, with approximately 340,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2002 (ended March 31) consolidated sales totaled 8,191.7 billion yen ($68.3 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors, including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's Web site at www.hitachi.com.