Nirvanix Adds Mid-Continent Node at The PlanetPowered by Dell

HOUSTON, Sept. 16, 2008 – The Planet, the global leader in IT hosting, today announced that Nirvanix, the premier cloud storage platform provider, will add another node to its global Storage Delivery Network (SDN) at The Planet’s D2 data center in Dallas. Nirvanix has built a global cluster of storage nodes on the East and West Coasts of the United States, as well as in Europe and Asia. With the addition of the new Nirvanix mid-continent node, The Planet becomes home to the company’s latest access point. In addition, the partnership marks the first time Nirvanix will use Dell servers and storage for its platform. The implementation is expected to be fully operational in the fourth quarter of 2008. 

           The Nirvanix SDN provides companies with an alternative to adding network storage systems or using first-generation online storage platforms.  With Nirvanix, customers are guaranteed a shorter time-to-market, along with an 80 percent savings over building their own storage operations.  Equally as important, Nirvanix customers benefit from better flexibility and control for their operations.

           “Storage has become one of the most critical elements for any organization, particularly with the monumental expansion of business over the Internet,” said Steve Kahan, vice president of marketing and product management with The Planet. “For our customers who are considering cloud storage or who already use Nirvanix solutions, this represents a significant advantage over other cloud storage options. They now will have direct access and faster bandwidth connections that enhance the service they receive from the Nirvanix SDN.”

           “With a global client list, we evaluated a number of options for our next Nirvanix node,” said Nirvanix CEO Patrick Harr.  “The Planet’s reputation for reliability, its world-class network and data centers, and their exclusive use of Dell servers and storage offered the best combination of products and services. With this new location, our customers now have a zero hop on the Nirvanix storage network, an even more attractive option for building and scaling their next-generation Internet applications.”

           “Cloud-based computing is becoming a vital part of small- and medium-sized businesses’ IT infrastructure,” said Vivek Mohindra, vice president of Dell’s Small and Medium Business Group.  “With Nirvanix cloud storage, SMBs now have access to a powerful and attractive option, backed by Dell and The Planet.”

About Nirvanix

Nirvanix is the premier global “Cloud Storage” platform provider. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Nirvanix is privately held and has raised more than $18 million in funding from world-class investors including Intel Capital. Nirvanix customers include Fortune 50, media and entertainment and innovative Web 2.0 companies. For more information about the company and its services, visit www.nirvanix.com.

About The Planet

The Planet is the leading provider of On Demand IT Infrastructure solutions, hosting more than 22,000 small- and medium-size businesses and 12 million Web sites worldwide. The Planet Alpha division provides the widest array of self-managed dedicated servers and advanced services backed by 24x7x365 support. The Planet Northstar Managed Hosting division combines a proactive methodology and seasoned IT experts to deliver a fully managed hosting solution. With the best choice of servers, software tools and world-class support, backed by state-of-the-art facilities and an enterprise-class network, The Planet turns IT into a powerful competitive advantage that enables customers to grow their businesses. For additional information, visit www.theplanet.com.

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