DataCore Implements Central Storage Platform at Kiekert, German Automotive Manufacturer Supplier

SANsymphony Supports SAP Systems

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., Apr. 12 -- DataCore Software, a leading independent software vendor specializing in storage control, management and consolidation, today installed its comprehensive SAN management software SANsymphony(TM) software at Kiekert, a manufacturer of automobile locking systems. The company is now able to mirror its data synchronously between two data centers, thus providing double fault tolerance of its SAP systems. SANsymphony is independent of the underlying hardware and provides for almost complete automation of storage processes so that Kiekert may benefit from a major reduction in its total cost of ownership (TCO).

"We chose SANsymphony, since the software offers all the functions we need to provide the high availability of our data," explains Michael Graulich, vice president IT of Kiekert. "These functions include mirroring and the auto provisioning features made possible by SANsymphony's Network Managed Volumes (NMV) technology."

Kiekert combined the storage systems of various manufacturers to form a storage pool within the Storage Area Network (SAN), and the application servers allocate capacity flexibly and almost automatically using the Network Managed Volumes function. Owing to the innovative volume management technique, a maximum of storage capacity is always presented to the application servers. Resources can be better utilized since there is no need to expand storage infrastructure at frequent intervals. In addition, SANsymphony caching features accelerate the performance of inexpensive JBODs (Just-a-Bunch-of-Disks), assuring that they match or exceed that of intelligent, but expensive RAID arrays.

Kiekert's application environment consists of SAP systems and a decentralized LAN, Lotus Notes and Citrix servers. SANsymphony mirrors eight Terabytes of data synchronously between the two data centers, thus ensuring double fault tolerance. Applications remain online during mirroring so that the data is available to a high degree 24 hours 7 days a week.

"SANsymphony optimizes storage management since it considerably reduces storage administration efforts, ensures the high availability of data and offers significant financial benefits to the company," says Bernhard Margos, managing director of Bechtle. "We are very pleased that Kiekert is now able to benefit from the advantages provided by SANsymphony."

About Kiekert

Kiekert AG is the global leader for automobile locking systems. The company's extensive competence in all areas related to the locking system - mechanics, electrics and electronics - forms the basis for its success as innovation, technology and market leader. Kiekert is a system partner of all the renowned automobile producers. Owing to long-term development and supply agreements, Kiekert also has access to major new sales potential worldwide. As a competent partner in the new development of automobile locking systems, Kiekert provides considerable advance services in its development work. Over five percent of Kiekert's turnover is invested in research and development tasks. Thus, the company is able to offer car manufacturers special advance development services, which are usually decisive for the placement of a development or production order.

About Bechtle

Established in July 1983 as a one-man business, Bechtle has since then grown to become Germany's largest group-independent IT service provider with more than 2,600 employees. Bechtle's group of system houses provides nationwide coverage across the whole of Germany. It is a fully integrated reseller and IT service provider to the commercial sector (B2B). The company combines the service-oriented on-site operations of its system houses with Europe-wide Internet-based IT sales. This powerful combination of system houses and eCommerce is unique in Europe.

About DataCore Software

DataCore Software fundamentally changes the economics of managing storage with innovative software that combines advanced functions and services with the agility and savings of hardware independence. The company's award-winning SANsymphony and new low-cost SANmelody disk server software products provide unprecedented purchasing flexibility and future-proofing by empowering customers to fulfill portability and price/performance requirements across a broad choice of systems and devices. Small to Medium Enterprises, Global 2000 data centers and OEM storage subsystems rely on this comprehensive product portfolio to deploy disk servers, to easily add capacity expansion and to centralize and automate storage management for Windows, Unix, Linux, MacOS and NetWare systems. DataCore is privately held with corporate headquarters in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. For international office locations and more information, call (877) 780-5111 or visit www.datacore.com.

DataCore, the DataCore logo and SANsymphony are trademarks or registered trademarks of DataCore Software Corporation. Other DataCore product or service names or logos referenced herein are trademarks of DataCore Software Corporation. All other products, services and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

  Corporate Contacts:             Media Contact:
   DataCore Software Corporation  Corporate Ink
   Jan Jahosky                    Susan Bassett
   (407) 331-4699                 (617) 969-9192
   jan.jahosky@datacore.com       sbassett@corporateink.com

   Kiekert AG                     KONZEPT PR
   +49 (0) 2056-15-8190           Michael Baumann
   Heinz.Brueckner@kiekert.de     +49 (0) 821-3430016
                                  m.baumann@konzept-pr.de

   Bechtle Solingen               Regina Glaser
   +49 (0) 212-3390106            49 (0) 821-3430077
   solingen@bechtle.com           r.glaser@konzept.pr.de