FLEXSTOR.db v3.0: First DAM to Support SAN Topology

Rorke Deploys N-Tier Content Management System Utilizing Enterprise JavaBeans™ Architecture for Scaleable Distributed Enterprise Environments

San Francisco, Ca., Seybold Seminars SF, Booth #437, September 1, 1999 — Rorke Data, Inc., a leading developer of high-end storage and software solutions, has released version 3.0 of FLEXSTOR.db, the company's digital content and asset management software.  FLEXSTOR.db v3.0 combines n-tier, Java platform-based architecture with Oracle8i, the industry's first database designed specifically as an Internet development and deployment platform. The result is a highly flexible DAM solution that allows the integration of "SAN-aware" archive/restore functionality, offering the high-bandwidth, wide-area topology increasingly required by digital publishers.

FLEXSTOR.db is the first enterprise-class digital content and asset management solution to harness the latest Oracle8i & Java technologies, and features the integration of Oracle Jserver and Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) for Internet-based transaction processing.

"FLEXSTOR.db successfully combines strategic technologies from key companies such as Oracle, SCH Technologies, Sun Microsystems, and SGI to deliver high-performance Web-based, SAN-ready DAM," said M. Michael Denley, Rorke's vice president of software.

"With this new release of FLEXSTOR.db, Rorke Data strengthens its leadership in digital content management software," said Bill Roth, product line manager, Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE) at Sun Microsystems. "Furthermore, their visionary use of the Java platform – particularly of J2EE technology such as the EJB architecture — clearly establishes their thought leadership in providing cross-platform, scalable solutions for any digital content production environment."

"Rorke's choice of Oracle technology for Java for its FLEXSTOR.db product is an excellent example of how leading-edge companies are leveraging Internet computing to deliver new benefits to their customers," said Jeremy Burton, vice president of Internet platform marketing at Oracle.  "By deploying their application as Enterprise JavaBeans on Oracle8i with Oracle JServer, Rorke can offer its customers the dual benefits of low-cost, server-based deployment, plus simplified user access from any web browser in the world. We're delighted that Rorke chose to build their enterprise-class digital content management solution on Oracle's Internet Platform."

In addition to the Enterprise JavaBeans support in Oracle8i, the v3.0 release of FLEXSTOR.db integrates and leverages other Oracle products of interest to digital publishers, prepress providers, A/V post-production specialists and web content managers.  The products include Oracle interMedia, which provides FLEXSTOR.db with audio, video, and full text search capabilities, and the Oracle Visual Information Retrieval (VIR) cartridge.

FLEXSTOR.db's robust n-tier design ideally complements the industry's emergent SAN technology.  As one example, said M. Michael Denley, Rorke's vice president of software, FLEXSTOR.db v3.0 can offer its users high-bandwidth, fibre channel-connect storage peripherals with SAN back-up, archive, and restore products from SCH Technologies, all deliverable to the desktop through FLEXSTOR.db clients.

"The high volume requirements of Rorke's FLEXSTOR.db customers are a perfect match with our SAN back-up technologies," said Dale Miller, vice president of development, SCH Technologies. "Version 3.0 offers users the ability to simultaneously back-up, archive and restore thousands of files on demand from one or more servers simultaneously through the FLEXSTOR.db client interface."

An SGI spokesperson concurred with the notion that digital asset management solutions are highly complementary to the new SAN technology.  "The market for digital media SANs is exploding as customers are looking to share and manage storage resources," said SGI's Wayne Arvidson, global industry marketing manager, digital media. "SGI's commitment to high-performance computing and scalable servers is in part driven by high-bandwidth, non-centralized applications such as FLEXSTOR.db.  SGI and Rorke Data are working together to deliver flexible, reliable asset management and SAN solutions to our customers."

FLEXSTOR.db is a leading digital content and asset management software solution that provides business entities with the ability to manage business-related documents and files locally and across the Internet. The application offers its users a high performance, multi-tiered application based on the Java platform, and is designed for Internet-based, multi-platform workstation clients who utilize the robustness and scaleability of Unix and NT servers and Oracle database and transaction processing technology.  Providing local and remote access, automatic identification and distributed multi-level hot-folder capability, FLEXSTOR.db manages the import, indexing, export, archiving and distribution of digital files.

FLEXSTOR.db v3.0 Features:

 

Rorke Data is a full digital storage solutions provider with expertise in SAN-connectivity, FC RAID, high performance tape and optical libraries, Unix, NT and Mac environments, high bandwidth networks, digital asset and document management, and engineering and maintenance services. Founded in 1985, Rorke Data is a privately held Minnesota corporation.  Together with its European subsidiary, Rorke Data Europe, located in Emmen, The Netherlands, the company is composed of six divisions: Audio/Video, Prepress, Imaging, Document Management, Digital Media Supplies, and Engineering and Installation Services.  More information about Rorke Data can be found at www.rorke.com.

Rorke Data™ and FLEXSTOR.db^TM are trademarks of Rorke Data, Inc.  Oracle™, Oracle 8™, and Oracle8i™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of Oracle, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Java™ and Enterprise JavaBeans™ are trademarks of Sun Microsystems.