IBM Extends Connectivity of 3995 Optical Library to PC Platforms

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., April 11 . . .IBM today announced that the 3995
Optical Library Dataserver can now be directly attached to IBM and
IBM-compatible personal computers, giving users direct access to vast
amounts of on-line optical information. This capability has been added to
3995 Models A63, 063 and 163, which were previously used only with IBM's
RISC System/6000 platform; they will continue to be marketed for use in
that environment, as well as for use with PCs.

The new capability significantly extends the connectivity of the 3995,
enhancing its status as the most broadly attachable family of optical
jukeboxes in the marketplace. The 3995 is now available for use in storage
solutions ranging from PCs to mainframes. IBM is demonstrating the 3995's
new capability at the Association for Information and Image Management
(AIIM) show and conference being held here this week.

IBM also announced that the 3995 Optical Library Dataserver is now
supported by Lotus Notes:Document Imaging (LN:DI) software and can be used
to store image information in this rapidly growing desktop environment.
Several other software vendors have indicated their intention to provide
storage management software that supports the extended capability of the
3995 in OS/2, NetWare, DOS/Windows, Windows NT, SCO UNIX, Banyan and
LANtastic environments.

The 3995 family of optical libraries is used for a wide variety of
applications, including image processing, data archiving, on-line report
distribution, hierarchical storage management and LAN backup. Infrequently
accessed information that currently resides on paper, microfiche, diskette
or tape is ideally suited for storage on the 3995, offering the
opportunity for increased productivity and reduced storage costs.

Models A63, 063 and 163 -- capable of storing 20 billion, 40 billion and
188 billion characters (gigabytes), respectively -- can now be used to
support personal computer application environments that require direct
access to vast amounts of on-line information stored in a cost effective
manner.

"With today's announcement, we're bringing the benefits of IBM's
multifunctional optical technology to a whole new range of business
applications for PCs," said Vic Jipson, general manager of optical
products, IBM Storage Systems Division. "We're delighted that a number of
software vendors have already indicated their products will be available
for use with the 3995's enhanced models."

Information stored in the 3995 may be in either rewritable or permanent
write-once, read-many (WORM) form. IBM's industry-leading permanent WORM
technology makes it an ideal solution for storing critical information as
a permanent record to meet legal or business requirements. The ability to
mix and match different types of storage media in the 3995 gives users
considerable flexibility in selecting computing applications that may be
used in conjunction with a single library.

3995 Models A63, 063 and 163 are connected to the computing platforms via
an industry-standard SCSI connection. The library can work with the
current generation of industry-standard 5.25-inch cartridges capable of
storing 1.3 gigabytes or with previous generation cartridges that store
650 million characters (megabytes).

The 3995 expanded capability Models A63 and 163 are planned for
availability on April 14, 1995 and Model 063 on May 5, 1995.

Applications Software for Models A63, 063 AND 163

Lotus Development Corporation has enhanced Lotus Notes:Document Imaging
(LN:DI) Mass Storage System (MSS), Release 2.6 software to support 3995
Models A63, 063 and 163 in the PC environment. LN:DI is a utility that
allows users to incorporate paper-based information directly into Lotus
Notes documents. The MSS software is a hierarchical storage manager that
maintains frequently accessed images on high-speed disk, while migrating
others to the 3995 Optical Library.

"Lotus' recent announcement enabling every Notes desktop to support imaging
applications is entirely consistent with our own view of the direction for
optical storage," said Jipson. "We're pleased to have them as a partner in
making these technologies available for customers."

An initial listing of software for use with the enhanced models of the 3995
in specified PC environments includes:

 -- Cheyenne Optical Storage Manager for OS/2;
    Cheyenne Software, Inc., 1-800-243-9462;
    for use with OS/2.

 -- DiskExtender;
    Optical Technology Group, Inc., 1-800-324-4222;
    for use with Windows NT.

 -- Optical Jukebox Management Interface;
    Pegasus Disk Technologies, Inc., 1-510-938-5340;
    for use with OS/2, DOS, Windows, Netware, LAN Server, VINES,
    LANtastic, and LAN Manager.

 -- OptiDriver 2000 for Jukeboxes;
    Optisys, 1-602-997-9699;
    for use with DOS, Windows, Netware, VINES, LANtastic,
    PC LAN, Windows for Workgroups, and LAN Manager.

 -- PCUNIX/AC;
    Software Horizons, Inc., 1-408-684-1375;
    for use with Santa Cruz Operation (SCO) UNIX.

 -- SCSI Express;
    Micro Design International, Inc., 1-800-228-0891;
    for use with OS/2, DOS, and NetWare.

Information about the availability of these products can be obtained from
the vendors listed. Additional application providers or resellers
interested in the 3995 should call 1-800-IBM-3333, ext QM102 for more
information.

IBM is the world's largest supplier of computer storage products. Through
its Storage Systems Division, the company provides a full line of storage
solutions for IBM computing systems, for original equipment manufacturers
(OEMs) and for commercial distribution. Its offerings include disk drives,
arrays and subsystems; magnetic tape drives, subsystems and automated
libraries; optical drives and libraries; storage controllers; and related
storage management software.

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