CATZ Computer Access Technology (MM)

CATC Announces 4 Gbps Fibre Channel Protocol Analyzer Next Generation Analyzer to Empower Leading Edge Developers to Test and Verify 4 Gbps Fibre Channel Components SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Computer Access Technology Corporation (CATC) , a leading communications protocol expert company, today announced the availability of its 4 Gbps Fibre Channel expert analysis system, the FCTracer 4G. The FCTracer 4G provides 4 Gbps Fibre Channel early adopters with a test platform that combines advanced display, analysis, capture and reporting tools with the interoperability to capture traffic at 1, 2 and 4 Gbps signaling speed. The FCTracer 4G is a new plug-in module designed specifically for CATC's Universal Protocol Analyzer System (UPAS 10000), and is available with 2 or 4 non-intrusive recording channels. The FCTracer 4G builds upon the strengths of CATC's original FCTracer with an auto-detect mode for 1, 2 and 4 Gbps Fibre Channel traffic. It can independently monitor and analyze multiple Fibre Channel links operating at different speeds simultaneously. The FCTracer 4G features the intuitive CATC Trace, which gives users the power to logically group events in a hierarchical display. The FCTracer 4G also incorporates CATC's Link Tracker time synchronized display. This chronological view of DWORD traffic moving upstream and downstream across each link provides precise timing context for analyzing FC-2 state transitions. The combination of these two methods of viewing and analyzing bus traffic creates a uniquely powerful approach to facilitating product time to market for Fibre Channel developers. "The Fibre Channel industry will soon begin sampling 4 Gbps silicon. The FCTracer 4G provides the advanced functionality that developers need to accelerate the design and debug of mixed 2 and 4 Gbps Fibre Channel SAN segments," said James Wright, Director of Storage and Networking Products at CATC. "By recognizing this trend at the front end of the 4 Gbps Fibre Channel development cycle, CATC was able to rapidly develop an expert analysis system that provides the critical features developers need now to verify interoperability between 4 Gbps components and the large installed base of 2 Gbps SANs." The FCTracer's "spool-to-disk" mode enables long-term recording for the capture of traffic over hours or days at a time. It has been enhanced to track intermittent problems in the network with the ability to search, report, and generate timing calculations between spooled segments. Users can easily configure the system to capture the traffic they want. It can identify a simple event or a complex sequence of transactions using two parallel trigger event sequencers, with up to 256 states each. Additionally, filter criteria may be established independently or integrated into the triggering system. CATC Verification Script Engine (CATC VSE) is a documented API that allows scripts to programmatically extract information from an FCTracer recording. Technicians may use the CATC VSE to create automated test scripts that open and parse through trace files. These customized scripts can perform complex calculations including verifying protocol-level conformance. The FCTracer 4G is a portable system capable of analyzing 2 or 4 channels in a highly mobile environment. It also offers the ability to scale up multiple UPAS chasses in cascaded configuration for verifying high port count environments. The ability to configure the FCTracer 4G from 2 to 16 channels means that it is equally valuable for field and lab applications. Availability CATC is now accepting orders for the FCTracer 4G protocol analyzer. For pricing or additional information, please contact CATC or its worldwide network of distribution partners. About CATC Computer Access Technology Corporation (CATC) is a global communication protocols expert company, providing test and measurement solutions for Computer I/O, Storage and Networking protocols, enhancing productivity and time to market. CATC develops, manufactures and markets advanced protocol analysis expert systems for established and emerging digital communications standards including Bluetooth, Fibre Channel, IEEE 1394, InfiniBand, PCI Express, SCSI, Serial Attached SCSI (SAS), Serial ATA and USB. Semiconductor, device, system and software companies use CATC's products during each phase of their products' lifecycles from development through production and market deployment. CATC's expert protocol analysis systems allow customers to monitor communications traffic, diagnose design and operational problems and confirm interoperability and standards compliance. Technicians also use CATC's test and analysis products on production lines and for maintenance of deployed systems and networks. CATC was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California. For more information regarding CATC and its products, please visit http://www.catc.com/. Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on CATC's current expectations, such as availability of product, market acceptance and competition, management capability and experience, levels of growth, profitability and shareholder value. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, such as CATC's production of new products, market acceptance of its products, competitive pressures, management performance, success of growth, profitability and increased shareholder value. These and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, are discussed in more detail in CATC's Annual Report on Form 10K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 20, 2004, Form 10-K/A filed March 3, 2004 and subsequent filings CATC may make with the SEC, as amended, which can be viewed at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/. NOTE: CATC, CATC Trace, CATC VSE, Computer Access Technology Corporation, FCTracer, FCTracer 4G, Link Tracker, Universal Protocol Analyzer System and UPAS are proprietary trademarks of Computer Access Technology Corporation. All other company names and marks may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. DATASOURCE: Computer Access Technology Corporation CONTACT: Heike Stabenow of CATC, +1-408-727-6600, or ; or Camille Cox of OnRamp Communications, +1-805-497-6400, or , for CATC Web site: http://www.catc.com/

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