Network Appliance & PDC Rollout Software Developer Kit for Network Data Management Protocol (NDMP)

March 31, 1997 -- Livermore, CA -- PDC, developer of the popular BudTool backup management software package, and Network Appliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTAP), the leading provider of dedicated, network data-access servers known as filers, today announced the immediate availability of a Software Developer Kit for vendors creating Network Data Management Protocol (NDMP)-compliant products.

NDMP, which was co-developed by PDC and Network Appliance, has received formal endorsements from twenty-five backup, tape library and network attached storage vendors as a new standard for simplifying network file backup. NDMP creates a "universal agent" on file servers that can be used by any compliant centralized backup administration application. As a result, system vendors can now focus on maintaining compatibility with a single, well-defined protocol while backup vendors can focus their product development efforts on central backup administration functionality.

Prior to the development of NDMP, backup vendors had to constantly track different system platforms and operating systems and then port their products to each new release.

"The SDK for NDMP will promote the widespread adoption of NDMP and assist the NDMP endorsees in achieving compliance with the protocol more quickly and easily," said Michael Peterson, President of Strategic Research. "By compiling the tools in the SDK into their product, a vendor's development efforts in creating NDMP-compliant products are greatly simplified which will accelerate time to market. Most importantly, this gives customers the freedom to choose best-of-breed enterprise backup management solutions which frees them from being locked into proprietary technologies. And because NDMP ensures interoperability between different file servers and backup solutions across operating system versions, data protection never lapses."

The SDK, now available, will consist of the following development tools:

• Protocol interfaces and communication libraries in ANSI C, with online developer documentation. The protocol interfaces and communication libraries can be compiled into vendor products to streamline development cycles.
• Simulated NDMP server and client. These simulations enable vendors to verify the implementation of the protocol in their respective backup, tape library or file server product.
• Data, tape and SCSI test component. This test suite allows vendors to ensure code generated messaging is complete without the need to implement a fully functioning system of backup software, filer server and tape library.
• Test Scripts for testing and modification

Practical Details

The SDK for NDMP is available immediately and can be downloaded from the public website www.ndmp.org.

ABOUT PDC

PDC is a leading provider of standards-based UNIX and Windows NT enterprise class backup and restore solutions for business critical networks. As a leading developer of storage management software including the popular BudTool®, PDC is also the co-developer of the Network Data Management Protocol (NDMP) an emerging standard for simplifying network file backup. For additional information contact PDC at 800.654.4732 or visit our web site at www.pdc.com.

ABOUT NETWORK APPLIANCE

Network Appliance develops and markets data storage-and-access servers known as filers that deliver shared file service for UNIX, Windows and the World Wide Web. These devices deliver fast, simple, reliable, and cost-effective access to data stored in the network. The company pioneered the concept of the "network appliance," an extension of the industry trend toward dedicated, specialized products that perform a single function. Network Appliance filers are based on the company's innovative data access software known as Data ONTAP and standards-compliant hardware. More information is available on the Internet at www.netapp.com.

All trademarks are acknowledged.