SIMI VALLEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 19, 2003--Qualstar(R) Corporation (Nasdaq:QBAK), a leading manufacturer of automated tape storage solutions, today announced the integration of IBM (NYSE:IBM) LTO 2 FC tape drives equipped with individual fibre channel interfaces into its highly regarded TLS-8000 Series Tape Libraries.

Users can now take full advantage of the performance of the LTO 2 drives. The aggregate data transfer rate exceeds two terabytes per hour in Qualstar's TLS-88264 library equipped with eight drives, using typical compression techniques. The 560 megabytes per second of sustained data throughput surpasses many high performance disk-based RAID systems. The TLS-88264 library stores over 100 terabytes of data in less than eight square feet of floor space.

Today's high performance tape drives are capable of sustained data transfer rates of over 70 megabytes per second, per drive. Multi-drive tape libraries can easily overload even multiple 2 gigabit per second Fibre Channel data paths. Bottlenecks are created when using SCSI-to-Fibre Channel bridge architectures to connect SCSI-interface tape drives to Fibre channel SANs. Qualstar has eliminated the bottleneck and eased installation and management challenges by integrating IBM's new LTO 2 FC tape drives incorporating direct Fibre Channel attachment into all models of the TLS-8000 Series Tape Library Family.

Each tape drive has its own individual Fibre Channel connection to the SAN. Removing the SCSI-to-Fibre Channel bridge eases initial installation and simplifies ongoing SAN management. The result is higher throughput for faster data backups and restores, a key consideration for companies with sharply escalating storage requirements and shrinking backup windows.

Seven TLS-8000 models provide a range of cost-effective solutions, housing one to eight IBM LTO 2 FC tape drives and up to 264 tapes. These SANSmart libraries support the latest SAN technologies. Q-Link(TM), Qualstar's browser-based remote manager, is supported on all models, enabling users to configure, monitor, diagnose and manage libraries from anywhere in the world.

The TLS-8000 Series offers superior performance and value for LTO tape users. With storage density approaching 14 terabytes per square foot of floor space and capacities from 1.1 to more than 100 terabytes, the TLS-8000 Series economically and reliably automates tape-based applications, whether backing up a single critical database or as an integral part of an enterprise-wide storage management solution.

"Our mission is to provide solid value through the application of innovative technology," said Bob Covey, Qualstar's vice president of marketing. "The TLS-8000 Tape Libraries with IBM LTO 2 FC direct fibre attachment deliver real advantages to our customers who are installing and managing backup and archive storage systems in complex SAN environments. We supply our customers with cost-effective storage and data protection, and fast, reliable access when they need it most."

All TLS-8000 Series libraries reflect Qualstar's commitment to producing Simply Reliable products that deliver solid technical and business benefits. Libraries equipped with IBM LTO 2 FC drives are available for shipment.

The TLS-8000 Tape Library Family is available exclusively through the company's worldwide network of authorized resellers.

About Qualstar Corporation

Founded in 1984, Qualstar Corporation is a leading manufacturer of automated tape libraries used for backup, archival storage, data protection and storage management applications. Its TLS-Series libraries are well known throughout the world for their rugged, Simply Reliable design yielding years of trouble-free operation. Qualstar tape libraries are sold, installed, and supported worldwide by selected Original Equipment Manufacturers, Value Added Resellers, and Systems Integrators. Qualstar Corporation is publicly traded on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange under the symbol QBAK. More information is available from Qualstar's web site (www.qualstar.com), or by phone at 805-583-7744.

Forward Looking Statement

Statements in this press release concerning the future business, operating results and financial condition of the Company are "forward-looking" statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties that could cause actual performance and results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the Company's actual results include unexpected shortages of critical components, unexpected product design or quality problems, and adverse changes in market demand for tape libraries or Qualstar's products. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Further information on these and other potential factors that could affect the Company's financial results or condition are included in Qualstar's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT:
Qualstar
Bob Covey, 805-583-7744
covey@qualstar.com
or
MMI Communications
Steve Friedberg, 610-518-7474
stevefriedberg1@earthlink.net

SOURCE: Qualstar Corporation