ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Jan. 18, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- QLogic Corp. (Nasdaq:QLGC), the company that powers storage area networks (SANs), today announced that IBM will use the QLogic SANblade QLA4010 host bus adapter in IBM(r) eServer(tm) xSeries(r) systems for small to midsized businesses (SMB). The QLogic iSCSI HBAs, powered by a single-chip TCP/IP and iSCSI offload engine, are designed to deliver user-friendly, high performance storage networking while preserving CPU resources.
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 SANblade Fibre Channel and iSCSI HBAs from QLogic, customers now have a choice -- a Fibre Channel SAN, an iSCSI SAN, or a combination of both.
"The addition of QLogic SANBlade HBAs on our xSeries servers allows us to help provide system administrators what they've been asking for -- a single Ethernet infrastructure that allows them to add another layer of simplicity to their IT networks, and more efficiently allocate and use valuable CPU resources," said Alex Yost, director, IBM systems and technology group.
SANblade QLA4010 iSCSI Host Bus Adapters
The 1Gbps SANblade QLA4010 iSCSI-to-133MHz PCI-X HBAs offer high performance, low CPU utilization, and server connectivity directly to iSCSI storage or to iSCSI storage through an Ethernet network. Key SANblade QLA4010 features and benefits include:
-- Offloading iSCSI + TCP/IP Processing -- The SANblade QLA4010
provides access to a high performance iSCSI SAN without
sacrificing server performance. Interrupts, CPU utilization,
memory bus utilization and host bus access associated with iSCSI
and TCP/IP are significantly reduced by offloading the tasks onto
the SANblade QLA4010 adapter. With iSCSI offload engines, fewer
servers are required to maintain application performance. Recent
testing by Network Computing's Storage Pipeline magazine shows
less than 3 percent CPU utilization by the SANblade QLA4010 HBAs.
-- Common iSCSI and Fibre Channel HBA Interface -- The most cost
effective and simple architecture for server connectivity to SANs
is to standardize on a single HBA interface. With a single
SANsurfer management software interface for both iSCSI and Fibre
Channel host bus adapters, architecting a SAN with QLogic HBAs is
extremely cost effective and simple.
-- Broad Platform Support -- Realizing the cost and ease-of-use
benefits of iSCSI HBA standardization requires drivers for
multiple operating systems. Drivers for popular operating systems
are available for the SANblade QLA4010 including Windows, Solaris
and Linux.
-- Boot from External Storage (SAN) -- Managing several operating
system "boot images" is a complex and time-consuming task for
system administrators. By consolidating operating systems on
external storage and booting servers from external storage --
changing, adding and removing servers is easier and faster. The
SANblade QLA4010 includes "boot-from-SAN" capability, enabling
this cost and time saving strategy.
"SMBs and technology consultants want SANs that easily support their business applications," said Frank Berry, vice president of corporate marketing, QLogic Corporation. "SAN solutions incorporating SANblade HBAs are designed to be easy-to-sell, easy-to-buy and easy-to-install."
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, NEC, 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 in 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 advises 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; seasonal fluctuations and uneven sales patterns in orders from customers; the ability to compete effectively with other companies; declining average unit sales prices of comparable products; 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; sales fluctuations arising from customer transitions to new products; terrorist activities and resulting military actions; international, economic, regulatory, political and other risks; changes in semiconductor foundry capacity; uncertain benefits from strategic business combinations; 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; the ability to protect proprietary rights or to satisfactorily resolve any infringement claims; changes in tax laws or adverse audit results; decreasing effectiveness of equity compensation in employee retention; charter documents and stockholder rights plan that may discourage a business combination; and facilities located in areas subject to earthquakes.
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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