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United Space Alliance Deploys BROCADE as Foundation for NASA U.S. Space Shuttle Storage Area Network

Prime Contractor for NASA Shuttle Program Deploys BROCADE SAN Solutions

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 5, 1999 -- Brocade Communications Systems, Inc., the leading supplier of Fibre Channel fabric solutions for Storage Area Networking, announced today that United Space Alliance (USA) Ground Operations, one of the world's leading space operations companies, has standardized on BROCADE solutions for storage area network (SAN) connectivity. The United Space Alliance, which is responsible for the NASA U.S. Space Shuttle operations, has deployed BROCADE fabric solutions to create a dynamically scaleable storage area network.

The BROCADE SilkWorm(R) family of Fibre Channel switches and software connects servers with storage devices through a Fibre Channel SAN and allows companies to access and share storage in a high-performance, manageable, and scaleable environment. The BROCADE-based SAN provides USA with a highly reliable infrastructure to support the massive information requirements of space operations such as the U.S. Space Shuttle.

"Managing and operating the U.S. Space Shuttle defines the words 'mission-critical': human lives and significant research investments depend on our data reliability and accessibility. Our storage environment must support the transmission of management data and support a data store of approximately five terabytes. Ground Operations Shuttle Processing consumes an enormous amount of data," said Mark Hargrove, Platform Architecture Engineering Services for USA at the Kennedy Space Center. "BROCADE SilkWorm switches provide the central connectivity for our storage network. Using BROCADE solutions, we have reduced the costs of both storage and storage administration. Through this networked environment, United Space Alliance gains a reliable, high-performance storage environment that is both scaleable and flexible and supports data and project expansion."

The Space Shuttle Requires Highest Performance and Reliability

United Space Alliance (USA), headquartered in Houston, Texas, is one of the world's leading space operations companies. USA manages and conducts space operations work involving the operation and maintenance of multi-purpose space systems, including NASA's human space flight program, Space Shuttle applications, and other reusable launch and orbital systems. As the prime contractor for NASA's Space Shuttle Program, USA is responsible for the day-to-day operation and management of the U.S. Space Shuttle fleet and overseeing mission design and planning; flight operations; software development and integration; payload integration; integrated logistics; astronaut and flight controller training; and vehicle processing for launch and recovery.

To maintain the massive amounts of data associated with the ground operations processing and management of the U.S. Space Shuttle fleet, USA implemented a SAN as part of the processing automation implementation at Kennedy Space Center. The SAN provides a networked storage environment to optimize performance and availability for this valuable data. The SAN supports five terabytes of storage today and comprises eight StorageTek(TM) Fibre Channel switches that are based on BROCADE full-fabric SilkWorm switches. The switches connect Windows NT servers, HP-UX Enterprise Class servers, and a robotic tape silo. BROCADE's zoning software ensures high manageability of the SAN.

"BROCADE continues to raise the bar in providing reliable, manageable and scaleable solutions for storage area networking. We are pleased to provide the strategic SAN platform for enabling continuously available, reliable information for the USA space operations," said Peter Tarrant, BROCADE vice president of marketing and business development.

About Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.

BROCADE is the leading supplier of open Fibre Channel fabric solutions that provide the intelligent backbone for Storage Area Networks (SANs). The BROCADE SilkWorm(R) family of Fibre Channel switches and BROCADE SAN management software are designed to optimize data availability in the storage enterprise. Using BROCADE solutions, companies can simplify the implementation of Storage Area Networks, reduce the total cost of ownership of data storage environments, and improve network and application efficiency and performance.

BROCADE is committed to maintaining open, standards-based solutions. Leading systems, applications, and storage vendors have selected BROCADE as their Fibre Channel connectivity standard, including CNT, CLARiiON, Compaq Computer, Data General Corporation, Dell Computer, Groupe Bull, IBM, McDATA Corporation, NEC, Network Appliance, Sequent, Siemens Computer Systems, Silicon Graphics, and StorageTek. In addition, BROCADE counts industry leaders Computer Associates, Emulex, Legato, QLogic, Tivoli Systems, and VERITAS among its strategic partners.

The company's headquarters is at 1901 Guadalupe Parkway, San Jose, CA 95131. Visit BROCADE at http://www.brocade.com , or contact the company at info@brocade.com.

NOTE: BROCADE, SilkWorm, SilkWorm Express, Fabric Integrator, Fabric OS, FABRIC 2000 and QuickLoop are trademarks or registered trademarks of Brocade Communications Systems Incorporated, in the United States and/or in other countries. All other brands, products, or service names are or may be trademarks or service marks of, and are used to identify, products or services of their respective owners.

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