HiFX Deploys Xsigo Virtual I/O to Enable Dynamic Data Center

Global currency exchange broker drives IT resource efficiency and achieves operating cost savings with a fully virtualized data center

San Jose, CA, February 17, 2009 -- Xsigo Systems, Inc., a technology leader in data center I/O virtualization, today announced that HiFX, the UK's leading independent foreign currency exchange specialists, has deployed Xsigo's I/O virtualization technology to support its operations. Headquartered in Windsor, Berkshire, UK, with other offices in North America, Europe, and Australasia, HiFX annually helps over 30,000 people buy and sell currency and also provides services to over 2,500 corporate clients across 100 industry sectors. Xsigo was selected by HiFX to provide a virtualized I/O infrastructure as part of a virtualization initiative that has allowed the company to increase application mobility while reducing ongoing IT operating costs.

HiFX has successfully deployed Xsigo VP780 I/O Directors at both its primary and secondary data centers to virtualize their production and failover server I/O infrastructure. Deployed in conjunction with VMware ESX 3.0 software, the combined solution enables a fully virtualized, dynamic data center architecture that delivers greater capacity than the previous approach with less than 1/10 the servers. Furthermore, by virtualizing the network and storage connectivity to each server the company has achieved a more flexible architecture that permits applications to run interchangeably at either company data center. Primary benefits include increased system availability and remote management capabilities for effective IT administration.

"Our virtualization project met our high expectations, due in large part to the flexible resource management enabled by Xsigo virtual I/O" said David Christie, CIO of HiFX. "In addition to delivering significant savings in IT operating expense, Xsigo's remotely manageable infrastructure allows resource utilization across regions, improves quality-of-life for our IT operations staff and aligns well with HiFX core value principle for staff capability and care"

Another benefit for HiFX of the virtualization initiative is to allow a secondary data center to accommodate workload during peak traffic periods. With the previous IT architecture, application migration to another data center site was too time consuming and impractical for temporary moves. The new, fully virtualized architecture including Xsigo provides for a near instantaneous capability for HiFX to reconfigure servers, networks, and storage to accommodate changes.

Server virtualization alone would not have provided the same benefit because applications each have specific connectivity requirements. By incorporating virtual I/O, the company achieves portability benefits of virtualization, allowing the potential of using the secondary site for extra overflow capacity.

"HiFX has taken a significant step forward in advancing data center design," said Lloyd Carney, CEO of Xsigo Systems. "Through innovative use of virtualization technologies including Xsigo virtual I/O, they have demonstrated that it is possible to simultaneously cut expenses, deliver superior service to customers, and ensure a better work environment for IT staff. That is a phenomenal triple win that shows the true potential of next-generation solutions such as Xsigo."

About HiFX
HiFX, Inc provides a range of foreign exchange services to corporate and individual clients who have a currency exchange requirement. Through its global offices HiFX has more than 2,500 corporate clients and also helps over 30,000 people annually to buy and sell currency. Everyday HiFX helps people and organizations achieve their currency exchange needs - saving them money over other alternatives and providing great customer service. For more information please refer to the HiFX website www.hifx.com for North America, or visit www.hifx.co.uk and select appropriate region for contact telephone numbers.

About Xsigo Systems
Xsigo Systems, Inc. is the technology leader in Data Center I/O Virtualization, helping organizations reduce costs and improve business agility. Xsigo's VP780 I/O Director consolidates server connectivity with a solution that provides unprecedented management simplicity and interoperability with open standards. By using Xsigo, it is estimated that large data centers can reduce server-related operational expenses by 80%, cut capital costs by 50%, and use 70% less cabling. The privately held company is based in Sunnyvale, CA and funded by Kleiner Perkins, Khosla Ventures and Greylock Partners. For more information, contact Xsigo at 408-329-5600, or visit www.xsigo.com.

Learn more about the Xsigo I/O Director here.