COSTA MESA, Calif., March 2, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Emulex Corporation (NYSE:ELX), the most trusted name in storage networking connectivity, today announced that Emulex has formalized participation in the VMware Community Source program, an innovative collaborative development effort that provides open technology access to the source code and APIs for VMware ESX Server. The program combines the best elements of open source and enterprise development allowing partners to boost the level of functionality and slash the time to market of virtualization solutions for their customers. Emulex will help drive standardization of SAN connectivity solutions for server virtualization environments.
As part of its participation, Emulex is contributing its LightPulse(R) Virtual HBA API specification, based on N-port ID Virtualization (NPIV), which enhances the overall functionality of the SAN in server virtualization environments. Emulex, in cooperation with other members of the VMware Community source program, will be a key participant in the development of a virtual HBA API. This API will enable HBAs to connect virtual machines to SANs improving fabric-based quality of service mapping to virtual machines, increasing supportability of large VMware VMotion clusters, and providing more transparent support of standard zoning tools.
Emulex first demonstrated its LightPulse Virtual HBA technology, designed to enable virtual machines to leverage dedicated SAN resources, at SNW Fall 2005 with VMware and leading fabric switch vendors Brocade, Cisco and McDATA. By incorporating support for NPIV standard, Emulex's Virtual HBA technology enables server virtualization solutions to seamlessly interoperate with SAN management technologies such as LUN masking and mapping to simplify storage administration and lower cost of ownership.
"Emulex agrees strongly with the principle of VMware's Community Source program-that certain technologies benefit the entire systems, I/O, and software ecosystem and, if developed collaboratively, can further advance technologies and standards that are advantageous for end users," said Mike Smith, executive vice president of worldwide marketing at Emulex. "Server virtualization promises significant cost-savings for end users who can now consolidate hardware and operate more efficiently. As demand for server virtualization solutions continues to grow -- and as more end users realize benefits such as new application deployment capabilities -- the need for consolidated storage will increase. Integration of NPIV-based HBAs is the best way to attach virtualized machines to a SAN while giving end users the full benefits of networked storage."
"Emulex's active work within the rapidly expanding VMware Community Source Program is based on a shared conviction that innovation does not happen in a vacuum," said Bernie Mills, senior director of developer programs at VMware. "The VMware Community Source program will enable Emulex, along with other member companies, to get innovations to market quickly and extend the virtual infrastructure that is in use at over 20,000 companies around the world."
Through its participation in the VMware Community Source program, Emulex will be working with other community members to create a specification enabling Emulex and other partners to develop an array of solutions maximizing the use of NPIV technology. Emulex is collaborating with the program's technical committee, capitalizing on VMware's mature offering, and extending the existing synergies between server virtualization solutions and enterprise storage networks.
About Emulex
Emulex Corporation is the most trusted name in storage networking connectivity, with solutions spanning host bus adapters, embedded storage switches, I/O controllers and SAN Storage Switches. Emulex products are selected by the world's leading server and storage manufacturers to provide customers with industry-leading SAN connectivity solutions. Emulex ranked number 19 in the Deloitte 2005 Technology Fast 50 and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:ELX). Corporate headquarters are located in Costa Mesa, California. News releases and other information about Emulex Corporation are available at http://www.emulex.com.
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