Date: Fri, 15 Oct 1999 11:46:04 -0700
From: Derek Asato 
To: lwn@lwn.net
Subject: ONSTREAM JOINS THE LINUX REVOLUTION


ONSTREAM™ JOINS THE LINUX REVOLUTION
Driver for Ultra-High Capacity Storage Device Now Available to
Open-Source Community

LONGMONT, Colo. – October 14, 1999 – An open-source beta driver for the
OnStream™ Echo 30 gigabyte* IDE digital storage drive is now available
to the Linux community from the company’s web site at
www.onstream.com/support/linux.  Developers now have free access to
modify, use, enhance and share the software.

“OnStream’s Advanced Digital Recording™ (ADR™) technology delivers a
breakthrough in value for high capacity tape storage that is ideally
suited for Linux servers,” Gadi Oxman, developer of the original Linux
IDE tape driver, said.  “Linux users will love the high capacity that
the DI30 offers.  OnStream technology is a natural fit for the Linux
environment.  The variable speed feature will work in cooperation with
the driver to maximize backup performance."

The new OnStream IDE beta driver, based on the standard Linux tape
driver written by Oxman, ide-tape-c, supports Linux versions 2.2.x and
2.3.x.  The author has placed the driver under the terms of the GNU
general public license.

“By releasing the driver for the DI30 as Linux open-source, OnStream is
providing solutions to the Linux community that will enable
cost-effective backup using the DI30 drive,” said Tim Jones, vice
president of development, Enhanced Software Technologies, Inc.  “Also,
providing the driver as open-source allows Linux developers to create
additional drivers and applications utilizing OnStream devices.”

Oxman created the beta driver independently of OnStream.  OnStream has
posted the driver to its web page as a service to its customers.
Support for the driver will be available from the community of Linux
users, and OnStream will be an active participant in the public dialog
that ensues.  OnStream will not provide support through its normal
technical support line.  Questions regarding this beta driver can be
sent to linux.beta@onstream.com.

“OnStream applauds the efforts of Gadi Oxman and other developers in the
Linux community,” said Jim Jonez, director, product marketing,
OnStream.  “Linux servers are quickly gaining momentum in the business
world for a wide variety of applications. OnStream is committed to the
open-source movement and encourages developers to write drivers for any
OnStream storage device.”

Linux drivers for OnStream’s line of SCSI storage drives are currently
under development.

About OnStream
Incorporated in 1998, OnStream, Inc. delivers affordable, high capacity
removable storage solutions for entry to mid-range servers, workstations
and power desktops.  The privately held, Colorado-based company is a
spin-off from Philips Electronics of The Netherlands.  All OnStream
drives are powered by the company’s patented Advanced Digital Recording
(ADR) technology -- at prices that make sense for today’s power desktop
and workgroup server computer customers.  For more information, visit
OnStream at www.onstream.com.

                                             #
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OnStream, ADR, OnStream Echo, the OnStream logo and ADR logo are
trademarks of OnStream, Inc.  All other trademarks are properties of
their respective companies.

*Where 1 gigabyte = 1 billion bytes.  All capacities assume 2:1
compression.  The Echo product line uses software compression.  The
ADR70 features hardware compression.  Capacity and performance will vary
with file types and system configuration.

CONTACT: Derek Asato/Annette Svedas                        Jackie Finch
                       The Bohle
Company                                      OnStream, Inc.
                       310/785-0515, ext.
201/245                           303/774-6705
                       derek@bohle.com/annette@bohle.com
jackie.finch@onstream.com