Toshiba, the US and world market leader in portable computers, has been reinforcing its position in the business market with a strategy that included the launch of the Equium series of desktop PCs in March 1997. Now the company adds its understanding of US market requirements to Toshiba's two decades of leadership in the Japanese market for distributed computing to deliver the Magnia series of servers, which brings new levels of innovation, quality and value to the market.

Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Toshiba's US subsidiary for information equipment, this month begins its roll-out of the Magnia line, with two models, the Magnia 3000 series workgroup servers and the Magnia 5000 series departmental servers, both incorporating Pentium processors operating at 350MHz or 400MHz. Both exceed their competition in terms of providing as standard high-reliability features typically found only on much more expensive enterprise-class servers.

The trend in enterprise computing from mainframe to client-server systems will push demand for PC servers in coming years. According to Toshiba's estimation, market growth of 141% in 1997 is expected to rise to 120% in 1998. The US market accounts for 30% of the world market. With its entry into the US server market, Toshiba establishes itself as a total solution provider, offering a complete range of business products in portable PCs, desktop PCs, and routers.

Toshiba will simultaneously introduce the same models in Japan. In the coming three years, Toshiba expects to see sales of 100,000 servers in the worldwide markets.

Key features of Magnia Servers

Magnia 3000

• Up to two high-speed Pentium Processors at 350 or 400MHz can be integrated into the system, to support high-speed network transactions. A secondary 512KB cache supports high-speed operation.

• Main memory can be expanded up to 1GB.

• Up to four individual nine gigabyte hard disk drives can be combined in a 36GB array. Drive rotation is at 7,200rpm, supporting data transfer via the UltraWide interface at 40MBps. Drives can be hot-swapped.

• An optional second LAN card provides fail-safe redundancy.

• Fast ECC memory and RAID capabilities are supported.

• Optional redundant power supply.

• The unique chassis features a lockable, split front door providing access to the floppy drive and CD-ROM. When it is opened, three sides of the chassis can be removed without tools, giving access to all vital system components, including an innovative modular tray, allowing quick access to the motherboard for servicing or upgrading.

• The system can be activated and terminated from a remote location.

• Built-in management system monitors operations. In any critical situation, the system alerts IS management and tracks vital system functions.

• Up to two high-speed Pentium Processors at 350 or 400MHz can be integrated into the system, to support high-speed network transactions. A secondary 512KB cache supports high-speed operation.

• Main memory can be expanded up to 1GB.

• Up to twelve individual nine gigabyte hard disk drives can be combined in a 108GB array. Drives with a rotation rate of 7,200rpm or 10,000rpm. The latter speed support the Ultra2Wide interface data transfer rate of 80MBps. Drives can be hot-swapped.

• An optional second LAN card provides fail-safe redundancy.

• Fast ECC memory and RAID capabilities are supported.

• Optional redundant power supply.

• The unique chassis features a lockable, split front door providing access to the floppy drive and CD-ROM. When it is opened, three sides of the chassis can be removed without tools, giving access to all vital system components, including an innovative modular tray, allowing quick access to the motherboard for servicing or upgrading.

• The system can be activated and terminated from a remote location.

• Built-in management system monitors operations. In any critical situation, the system alerts IS management and tracks vital system functions.

• All key components are modularized, including the mother board, fan and power supply.