LONG BEACH, Calif. (Storage World Conference), June 28, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- QLogic Corp. (Nasdaq:QLGC), the company that powers storage area networks (SANs), today announced that the QLogic SANblade QLA4010 (fiber optic) and QLA4010C (copper) iSCSI host bus adapters (HBAs), are now available to resellers via QLogic authorized distributors worldwide including: ACA Pacific, ACAL, Arrow, Bell Microproducts, Coma Zalohovaci Syatemy A.S., Four Leaf, Hammer, Ideal Enterprise Solutions, Infodip S.A., Info-X, Laser Computer Limited, MOCA, Promark Technology, SAM Boo System Corp., SM DATA, Systex, Storgate Africa, Tech Data, TidalWire, TIM Storage Solutions and Triangel Computer. Featuring a single-chip iSCSI controller, these SANblade HBAs allow servers to connect to iSCSI storage area networks while providing TCP/IP off-load (TOE) and iSCSI off-load which dramatically reduces server CPU utilization.
iSCSI - Now Customers Have a Choice
Ethernet networks have been used as a highly efficient way to move file-oriented data. In the last decade, high-bandwidth SANs have evolved as the best way to move blocks of data to multiple users faster and more reliably using the SCSI protocol across Fibre Channel. iSCSI is a new protocol that enables block-oriented storage data to be carried by Ethernet networks. The promise of iSCSI is to simplify networking by merging IP and iSCSI traffic onto a single Ethernet infrastructure. With the SANblade QLA4010 and QLA4010C, customers now have a choice- a Fibre Channel SAN, an iSCSI SAN, or a combination of both.
"The iSCSI market is set to take off - finally," said Steve Duplessie, founder and senior analyst, The Enterprise Storage Group, Inc. "QLogic is once again at the right place at the right time, with the right product."
QLogic SANblade QLA4010 Advantages
The 1Gbps QLA4010 iSCSI-to-133MHz PCI-X HBAs offer high traffic throughput, low CPU utilization, and server connectivity directly to iSCSI storage or to iSCSI storage through an Ethernet network. The QLA4010s offer several advantages over many competitive products including:
-- Full iSCSI off-load, which reduces the burden of network
and storage protocol processing from the host system. This
feature drastically improves overall system performance and
reduces costly investments in additional systems.
-- Full TCP/IP off-load including exception handling, which keeps
the host system free from processing out-of-order and fragmented
frames and improves the consistency of system performance.
-- Hardware iSCSI header and data digest implementation, which
ensures data integrity over a layer 3 TCP network without
burdening the host CPU.
-- Embedded processors in the QLogic ISP4010 controller ASIC,
which provide customer flexibility to download new code in
the event of future changes in features or standards.
-- Consistent interface with QLogic Fibre Channel products,
which simplifies integration of multiple I/O technologies
and assures seamless integration with existing storage
applications.
-- Exposed TCP, IP and Ethernet interfaces, which reduces
solution costs, by enabling networking applications such
as SNMP management and storage functions to run on the same
controller.
-- Highly integrated single chip design with hardware TCP/IP,
which simplifies chip integration, reduces real estate
requirements and greatly reduces power consumption. This
allows many HBAs to be installed in a single host system.
Certified Interoperability
The QLA4010 iSCSI adapter is certified for interoperability by leading iSCSI SAN software and hardware vendors including: ADIC, ATTO Technology, Computer Associates, Critical I/O, EqualLogic, FalconStor, LSI, Intransa, Microsoft, Network Appliance, Overland Storage, Promise Technology, SBS and Sun Microsystems.
QLogic SANsurfer Management Suite
Standard and free of license fees with all QLogic HBAs and switches, QLogic SANsurfer Management Suite provides a complete easy-to-use solution for storage network device management. SANsurfer Management Suite simplifies SANs with point-and-click configuration wizards for easy device management. By addressing the complexity of the SAN with the software rather than putting it in front of the end user, these wizards dramatically simplify complex tasks like installation and zoning. Users answer simple on-screen prompts (NEXT, NEXT, NEXT) to reduce long manual routines into quick point-and-click operations. With SANsurfer, productivity is dramatically increased and required expertise is dramatically reduced.
The SANblade QLA4010 family of iSCSI host bus adapters is expected to be available at a street price that starts below $750.
Powered by QLogic
Since 1993, over 50 million QLogic products have shipped inside servers, workstations, RAID subsystems, tape libraries, disk and tape drives. These products were delivered to small, medium and large enterprises around the world. Powering solutions from leading companies like Cisco, Dell, EMC, Fujitsu, Hitachi, HP, IBM, Network Appliance, Quantum, StorageTek and Sun Microsystems, the broad line of QLogic controller chips, host bus adapters, network switches and management software move data from storage devices through the network fabric to servers. A member of the S&P 500 and NASDAQ 100, QLogic was named to the following during fiscal year 2004: (i) Fortune's 100 Fastest Growing Companies list for the fourth consecutive year; (ii) Forbes' Best 200 Small Companies for the fifth consecutive year; and (iii) Business Week's list of 100 Hot Growth Companies. For more information visit www.qlogic.com.
Note: All QLogic-issued press releases appear on the Company's website (www.qlogic.com). Any announcement that does not appear on the QLogic website has not been issued by QLogic.
Disclaimer - Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains statements relating to future results of the Company (including certain beliefs and projections regarding business trends) that are "forward-looking statements" as defined within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied in the forward-looking statements. The Company wishes to advise readers that these potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the volatility of the Company's stock price; fluctuations in operating results; the dependence on the storage area network market; the ability to maintain and gain market or industry acceptance of the Company's products; the dependence on a limited number of customers and fluctuations or cancellations in orders from customers; the ability to compete effectively with other companies; a reduction in sales efforts by current distributors; the dependence on relationships with certain silicon chip suppliers and other subcontractors; the complexity of the Company's products; terrorist activities and resulting military actions; international, economic, regulatory, political and other risks; changes in semiconductor foundry capacity; the ability to maintain or expand upon strategic alliances; the strain on resources caused by rapid growth and expansion; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; and the ability to protect proprietary rights or to satisfactorily resolve any infringement claims.
More detailed information on these and additional factors which could affect the Company's operating and financial results are described in the Company's Forms 10-K, 10-Q and other reports, filed or to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company urges all interested parties to read these reports to gain a better understanding of the many business and other risks that the Company faces. The forward looking statements contained in this press release are made only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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