NETGEAR Extends Leadership in SMB Storage with Two High-Performance ReadyNAS Solutions for Virtualized Environments

HANNOVER, Germany — March 1, 2010 — NETGEAR^®, Inc. (NASDAQGM: NTGR), a worldwide provider of technologically innovative, branded networking solutions, today announced the addition of two high-performance network storage platforms optimized for storage virtualization applications to its award-winning family of ReadyNAS® products. NETGEAR is the worldwide leader in storage for Small- and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs), see http://www.netgear.com/About/PressReleases/en-US/2009/20090608.aspx.

With support for up to 500 users, the powerful but cost-effective ReadyNAS 3100 and ReadyNAS 4200 are ideal as primary storage solutions for mid-range enterprises and high-performance secondary solutions for larger businesses. ReadyNAS provides reliable high-performance data storage along with integrated replication and backup options in virtualized IT infrastructures, enabling businesses to reduce costs and increase flexibility. This week, NETGEAR will display its new ReadyNAS products in Bell Microproducts’ booth (Hall 14, Stand K35) at the CeBIT trade show in Hannover, Germany, March 2-6. Related CeBIT announcements can be found here (http://www.netgear.com/About/PressReleases.aspx).

“The introduction of the ReadyNAS 3100 and ReadyNAS 4200 further solidify NETGEAR as the leader of network storage in the SMB market segment,” said Paul Tien, vice president and general manager of NETGEAR’s Network Storage Business Unit. “From enterprise branch office to mid-range datacenter, NETGEAR provides powerful but affordable storage solutions that support advanced applications and virtualized server environments. Combined with advanced switching, wireless and security product lines, NETGEAR provides more complete solutions for channel partners than any other vendor in the market.”

The ReadyNAS 3100 is a 1U 4-bay rack-mountable storage platform that provides up to 8 terabytes (TB) of storage capacity in a single system. The ReadyNAS 4200 is a 2U 12-bay rack-mountable storage platform that provides up to 24TB and two redundant drives in a single system. Both are VMware®-ready and are unified storage systems powered by the Linux^®-based ReadyNAS RAIDiator^™ operating system.

The ReadyNAS 3100 and 4200 deliver high-end, enterprise-class features in addition to the field-proven, award-wining ReadyNAS architecture. Most notably, the ReadyNAS 3100, with 4 SATA channels, is the first sub-$5K 1U rack-mount storage system with redundant power supply for improved reliability and business continuity. Additionally, the ReadyNAS 4200, with 12 SATA channels, is the first ReadyNAS to support the 10 Gigabit Ethernet network infrastructure. This offers customers greatly improved throughput, response time, reliability and efficiency, making the solution ideal for server virtualization, database and other business-critical applications for SMBs.

ReadyNAS 3100 and 4200 features:

• Unified architecture support for both NAS and iSCSI SAN applications — cross platform file sharing, secure replication, easy remote access, cloud backup, disaster recovery and server virtualization;
• Powerful platforms for performance-demanding applications — powered by an Intel® Quad Core processor, the ReadyNAS 4200 with 10 Gigabit Ethernet network connectivity delivers over three times higher performance compared to the existing top-of-the-line ReadyNAS platform;
• The most reliable ReadyNAS product design for business-critical applications — hot swappable enterprise SATA drives, redundant system cooling, redundant network ports, Error-Correcting Code (ECC) memory and redundant power supply.

“IT departments are looking for cost-effective yet reliable and high performance storage systems to support the foundation of the IT infrastructure. As such, organizations have begun adopting virtualization solutions as they cut costs and increase operational flexibility and environmental friendliness,” said Benjamin Woo, vice president of IDC’s Enterprise Storage Systems research group. “NETGEAR’s new storage systems exemplify the kind of affordable yet powerful platforms that IT needs in their virtualized environments.”

The 1U rack-mount ReadyNAS 3100 can come equipped with 4TB or 8TB of storage capacity at an estimated U.S. street price starting at $3,800. The 2U ReadyNAS 4200 can come equipped with 12TB or 24TB of storage capacity at an estimated U.S. street price starting at $10,000. Both solutions can be purchased worldwide from NETGEAR PowerShift Partners as of late April. ReadyNAS Vault™ is included as a 30-day trial of pre-paid and annual capacity plans. ReadyNAS systems come with full 24/7 technical support and an industry-leading five-year warranty with spare parts support and extended service options. More information for the entire ReadyNAS product line can be viewed here (http://www.readynas.com).

About NETGEAR, Inc.
NETGEAR (NASDAQGM: NTGR) designs innovative, branded technology solutions that address the specific networking, storage, and security needs of Small- to Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs) and home users. The company offers an end-to-end networking product portfolio to enable users to share Internet access, peripherals, files, multimedia content, and applications among multiple computers and other Internet-enabled devices. Products are built on a variety of proven technologies such as wireless, Ethernet and powerline, with a focus on reliability and ease-of-use. NETGEAR products are sold in over 28,000 retail locations around the globe, and via more than 39,000 value-added resellers. The company’s headquarters are in San Jose, Calif., with additional offices in 25 countries. More information is available at http://www.netgear.com or by calling (408) 907-8000. Connect with NETGEAR at http://twitter.com/NETGEAR and http://www.facebook.com/netgear. 

©2010 NETGEAR, Inc. NETGEAR, the NETGEAR logo, ReadyNAS, RAIDiator and ReadyNAS Vault are trademarks or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Information is subject to change without notice. All rights reserved. 

Note: Actual data throughput will vary from maximum signal rates stipulated. Network conditions and environmental factors, including volume of network traffic, building materials and construction, and network overhead, lower actual data throughput rate.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for NETGEAR, Inc.:
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Specifically, statements concerning NETGEAR’s business and the expected performance characteristics, specifications, reliability, market acceptance, market growth, specific uses, user feedback and market position of NETGEAR’s products and technology are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the following: the actual price, performance and ease of use of NETGEAR’s products may not meet the price, performance and ease of use requirements of customers; product performance may be adversely affected by real world operating conditions; failure of products may under certain circumstances cause permanent loss of end user data; new viruses or Internet threats may develop that challenge the effectiveness of security features in NETGEAR’s products; the ability of NETGEAR to market and sell its products and technology; the impact and pricing of competing products; and the introduction of alternative technological solutions. Further information on potential risk factors that could affect NETGEAR and its business are detailed in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties listed in the section entitled “Part II - Item 1A. Risk Factors,” pages 36 through 50, in the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal third quarter ended September 27, 2009, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 6, 2009. NETGEAR undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

U.S. Media Contact: Jay Nichols, Sterling Communications, (415) 992-3210, jnichols@sterlingpr.com
U.S. Sales Inquiries: (408) 907-8000, sales@netgear.com
U.S. Customer Inquiries: (888) NETGEAR