Client/Server Software Provides Data Centers With Unique Real-Time Management Tool For Media And Drive Performance

Oakdale, Minn. (April 7, 1997) -- Imation Corp. (NYSE: IMN), the imaging and information technology company recently spun-off from 3M, today announced the availability of Imation Media Performance Manager. Designed to improve the productivity and security of tape libraries, Imation Media Performance Manager is a client/server software product that allows data center personnel to monitor and manage media and drive performance from their desktops in real-time.

"Imation Media Performance Manager answers our customers' requests for a flexible, customizable, easy-to-use software solution that allows real-time, on-demand management of drive and media performance," said Glenn Jacobsen, business development manager for storage management, Imation Corp. "Easy, on-demand access to key media and drive performance data will help reduce the costs of unexpected errors and enable effective short- and long-term planning, both of which improve data center productivity and efficiency."

The new software tool is among Imation's first forays into data storage software, according to Michael Sheridan, vice president of Imation's data storage business unit. "Imation's goal is to go beyond supplying media -- to support its customers with complete storage management solutions. Reaching this goal will mean providing storage media, library systems and software tools to meet customer needs," Sheridan said.

Imation's new client/server software is the result of an extensive co-development effort between Imation and Sacramento, Calif.-based Sterling Software (NYSE: SSW), developer of SAMS:Vantage™, a storage management software solution for the MVS operating environment.

"The Imation/Sterling relationship is a highly productive collaboration. The result? Storage professionals now have a comprehensive solution that meets the needs of today's dynamic business-critical storage operation," explained Steve Wilkinson, Vice President Marketing, Sterling Software, Storage Management Division. "When used together, SAMS:Vantage for MVS and Imation Media Performance Manager makes it easy to manage tape, drives, DASD -- the entire storage hierarchy."

"Working with Sterling Software, Imation leveraged cutting-edge SAMS:Vantage storage management technology to bring a needed solution to market," Jacobsen said. "Adding Imation Media Performance Manager to computing environments which use SAMS:Vantage, or another storage management software product, provides customers with a complete storage management solution."

Imation Media Performance Manager was created to meet the needs of companies with stand-alone and/or automated tape libraries for real-time, on-demand information on data storage drive and tape performance.

"Imation Media Performance Manager provides our joint customers with a tool to further protect their investments in StorageTek NearlineÖ technology," said Gary Francis, Vice President and General Manager, Enterprise Nearline Business Group, Storage Technology Corporation (NYSE: STK). "We feel that this is an important step forward in total library management."

Real-time information access helps prevent temporary tape problems from becoming permanent, such as data loss due to unexpected errors or an unanticipated decrease in the number of readily available "scratch" tapes. In addition, the software allows data center personnel to collect and summarize media and drive performance over time, making it possible to monitor and analyze historical trends and variations in library performance.

The software consists of two components: a mainframe (server) -- a started task in the IBM MVS/ESA™ operating environment that continuously collects tape volume and drive performance data -- and a PC (client) that allows users to view, evaluate, and generate customized reports from their desktops -- in real time -- through a Microsoft Windows™ or IBM OS/2™ (with WIN-OS/2) PC graphical user interface (GUI).

Customers are offered a 60-day trial period prior to purchase. Pricing is tiered, based on individual site factors. Pricing and technical details are available through Imation Data Storage account representatives.

How It Works: Imation Media Performance Manager is designed for 3480-compatible or higher tape volumes and drives in stand-alone and automated tape library environments. The mainframe (server) component continuously collects and stores media and drive performance data. From a desktop PC running the Microsoft Windows or IBM OS/2 operating system, users can use simple point and click commands to determine what information they need, specify display parameters, and create a customized viewing environment. The PC client software then transmits a request for data to the mainframe server component. The mainframe server collects and summarizes error performance according to the user-defined parameters, and transmits the data back to the PC client.

From the PC, the user can evaluate the data, print customized reports, or save data files for use in popular desktop applications such as Microsoft Access™. The data can also be saved as sequential files on the MVS/ESA host with either partial or full record sizes.

Imation Media Performance Manager includes three types of security to help prevent data loss: logon security; on-site, on-demand reporting; and data integrity. First, only users with specific access to actions authorized through MVS/ESA will have access to the Imation Media Performance Manager system. Secondly, since reports can be developed and generated on demand and on-site, data never needs to be sent off-site. Finally, continuous, real-time monitoring of performance data minimizes error rates and helps ensure the integrity of data stored on tape.

Applications: Imation Media Performance Manager lends itself to a number of innovative applications. For example, the tape librarian may use the software to develop a "pull list" of tapes that exhibit unexpected errors which may need to be replaced. The storage administrator can determine how tape storage may be better utilized, and develop an adjusted hierarchical storage management (HSM) plan to move less active data sets to tape and free online storage. Other applications include determining how and when to supplement a declining "scratch tape" pool, or assisting decision-making on drive allocation or conversion to optimal drive technology.

Imation Corp. supplies a variety of products and services worldwide for the imaging and information industry, and is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of branded removable data storage media for computing applications. The company generated revenues of approximately $2.3 billion in 1996. Imation employs 9,400 people and is based in Oakdale, Minn.

Additional information about Imation and Imation Media Performance Manager is available on the company's website at www.imation.com.

Copyright 1996 Imation. All rights reserved.