Seattle, Wash. — May 23, 2006 — Microsoft WinHEC 2006 — Alacritech® Inc., the innovator of Dynamic TCP Offload™ technology that enables scalable networked systems, today announced its single- and multi-port Alacritech Accelerators are now available with support for the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Scalable Networking Pack. Alacritech’s SEN2000 line of TCP/IP Offload Engine Network Interface Cards (TNICs) and SES2000 line of iSCSI controllers provide the industry’s highest port density for the TCP Chimney Offload architecture introduced in the Scalable Networking Pack. Installed on Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Alacritech Accelerators work with the Scalable Networking Pack to reduce central processing unit (CPU) overhead and memory bandwidth utilization associated with networking by offloading TCP/IP processing and data delivery to specialized hardware on the Accelerator. Alacritech Accelerators, with support for the Scalable Networking Pack, cost-effectively scale server capacity and increase business application responsiveness in data-intensive Microsoft Windows Server environments.

“As the innovator of Dynamic TCP/IP Offload, Alacritech frees Microsoft Windows-based servers to focus on the application, rather than managing protocol processing,” said Larry Boucher, president & CEO, Alacritech, Inc. “Today, Windows-based servers running the Scalable Networking Pack with Alacritech Accelerators provide a cost-effective solution that enables fast response times and scalability in both Ethernet and IP storage environments.”

Designed for Windows Logo Qualification
Alacritech, a Gold Certified Partner in the Microsoft Partner Program, has been at the forefront of TCP Offload product development for Microsoft Windows-based systems since 1997, making Windows Server 2003 Scalable Networking Pack integration a straight-forward process. Alacritech Accelerators are also one of the first scalable networking solutions to be qualified as part of the Designed for Windows logo program for scalable networking hardware devices. Alacritech’s products have passed the necessary tests to help ensure interoperability with the Windows platform, and specifically with the Scalable Networking Pack.

“The Scalable Networking Pack for Windows Server 2003 adds support for the next generation of network acceleration and offload technologies to help customers cost-effectively scale their networked applications and services,” said Margaret Arakawa, senior director, Server and Tools Business, Microsoft Corp. “As a Microsoft IHV partner, Alacritech’s support for the Windows Server 2003 Scalable Networking Pack helps customers extend their server resources and do even more with Windows Server 2003.”

Installed in Windows-based servers, Alacritech Accelerators reduce network latency and increase networked applications’ bandwidth to enable better business application responsiveness through faster and more efficient:

	Web servers File servers Microsoft Exchange Servers		Microsoft SQL Servers and other database servers IP storage Backup and restore

In addition to providing seamless, integrated support for the Scalable Networking Pack, the Alacritech Accelerators support iSCSI boot with the Microsoft iSCSI Software Initiator to enable diskless systems to perform a SAN boot from an iSCSI target.

Product Features and Benefits

• Only multi-port PCI-X and PCI Express TNICs and iSCSI controllers
• Accelerates TCP data delivery with an ASIC-based TOE
• Reduces CPU and memory bandwidth utilization by offloading to specialized hardware
• Seamless integrated support for Scalable Networking Pack through 32-bit and 64-bit drivers
• Seamless integration and acceleration with the Microsoft iSCSI Software Initiator
• Native support for iSCSI boot to enable diskless systems to perform iSCSI boot from an IP SAN

Alacritech’s Dynamic TCP Offload technology is designed to optimize the TCP/IP stack to efficiently address high volume data growth and increasing bandwidth rates without requiring any modification to applications. Alacritech’s TNICs benefit TCP/IP traffic with persistent connections and moderate to large-sized application input/output (I/O) like those associated with file and block storage, while Alacritech’s iSCSI controllers provide similar benefits exclusively for IP-based block storage.

Availability
Alacritech’s SEN2000 family of TNICs and SES2000 family of iSCSI Accelerators with support for Windows Server 2003 Scalable Networking Pack are available today in single- or dual-port PCI-X models, and dual- or quad-port PCI Express models with either copper or fiber interfaces. Alacritech Accelerators are available through Alacritech’s channel partners. 32-bit and 64-bit drivers that meet Designed for Windows Server 2003 logo requirements for Scalable Networking Pack are available for download today at http://www.alacritech.com/Products/Overview.aspx. Evaluation units of all Alacritech Accelerators are available through the Alacritech Product Evaluation Program through Alacritech’s e-store at http://www.alacritech.com.