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LSI LOGIC PCI MegaRAID TECHNOLOGY ENABLES FSC ROMB SOLUTIONS

LSI Logic Corp announced it will deliver MegaRAID RAID on Motherboard (ROMB) products in support of the industry's early PCI Express technology server platform adopters, including Fujitsu-Siemens Computers.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers will employ the LSI Logic implementation to support a first-to-market strategy of ROMB solutions with Intel's PCI Express based "Dobson" I/O processor. LSI Logic is the world's leading supplier of third-party RAID products. Initial LSI Logic PCI Express offerings will include ROMB platforms for global server OEMs and ODMs, as well as the single-channel MegaRAID SCSI 320-1E and dual-channel MegaRAID SCSI 320-2E host bus adapters, all powered by Intel's high-performance "Dobson" I/O processor.

"The integration of RAID functionality directly onto the motherboard of our PRIMERGY servers provides the highest RAID performance at a favorable price level to our customers," said Dieter Herzog, vice president PRIMERGY servers at Fujitsu Siemens Computers. "The launch of LSI Logic's PCI-Express ROMB RAID solutions will enable data security features for broader market segments."

"PCI Express ROMB will complement Fujitsu Siemens Computers' successful launch of PCI-X RAID products and provides a roadmap for performance improvements in line with expected storage interconnect advances," said Phil Bullinger, vice president and general manager of the LSI Logic RAID Storage Adapter division. "Our relationship with Fujitsu Siemens Computers and the use of the Intel processor keeps LSI Logic at the forefront of RAID technology applications."

PCI Express MegaRAID

LSI Logic announced the industry's first dual-channel Ultra320 SCSI PCI-Express RAID solution at IDF Fall, as well as its early validation and development program with Intel that was critical to meet the rapid PCI-Express program time-to-market requirements. These next generation RAID storage adapters, feature an integrated serial I/O interconnect using Intel's high-performance PCI Express I/O processor, code named Dobson.

With its superior bandwidth for component communications and a much simpler internal design, PCI Express MegaRAID storage adapters address the growing demand for higher storage device throughput and scalability requirements across midrange and enterprise class server platforms. Its serial architecture does away with the limitations of parallel bus architectures by delivering high bandwidth with the fewest number of signals. This allows higher frequency scaling while maintaining cost effectiveness.

Intel's PCI Express I/O Processor

Intel's first PCI Express based I/O Processor, Intel internally code-named Dobson, is planned to be a highly integrated system on chip solution ideal for high performance ROMB (RAID on Motherboard) or PCI-Express RAID HBA (Host Bus Adapter) applications. It is planned that Dobson will use PCI-Express to connect directly to the Intel internally code-named Lindenhurst chipset, thereby reducing system power, latency and overall cost. The high-speed serial I/O architecture of PCI Express addresses the growing performance, scalability, feature extensibility and mission critical reliability demands that are inherent in the server market. It gives system designers the flexibility to develop new, more modular solutions that will scale to support the higher bandwidths demanded by the world's leading server builders.

About LSI Logic Corp

LSI Logic Corp is a leading designer and manufacturer of communications, consumer and storage semiconductors for applications that access, interconnect and store data, voice and video. In addition, the company supplies storage network solutions for the enterprise. LSI Logic is headquartered at 1621 Barber Lane, Milpitas, CA 95035, and is online at www.lsilogic.com/.