QLogic Worldwide Partner Conference, DALLAS, May 23, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- QLogic(r) Corp. (Nasdaq:QLGC), the leader in Fibre Channel host bus adapters (HBAs), stackable switches and blade server switches, today announced a new portfolio of products at Fusion 2006. The expanded line of QLogic products now form an end-to-end networking platform for QLogic network services, ISV storage services and channel partner solutions. New products introduced at Fusion 2006 are the SANbox 5000 96-Port Stackable Switch, SANbox 6000 Intelligent Storage Router, SANbox 8000 Storage Services Platform, SANbox 9000 Multi-Layer, Multi-Protocol Switch and InfiniPath InfiniBand Host Channel Adapter.
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"SAN VARs strive to deploy common infrastructures in order to simplify and lower the cost of managing storage," said Paul Myerson, head of the channel practice at consulting firm Enterprise Strategy Group. "I expect channel partners will see an opportunity to drive top line and bottom line growth by more efficiently integrating and supporting storage services on a common QLogic network platform."
SANBox 5000 Stackable Switch Now Scales Higher to 96-Ports
The QLogic SANbox 5000 Series is a family of highly scalable Fibre Channel stackable switches. Because each member of a stack is connected via a dedicated 10Gb stack interconnect, the stackable switch architecture allows SAN administrators to build large fabrics and not waste a single switch port for inter-switch-links (ISLs). The SANbox 5000 Series can now scale modularly from one switch with as few as 8 ports, all the way to six switches with as many as 96 ports. All SANbox stackable switch configurations feature simple wizard-based configuration and are easily managed as a single switch.
SANBox 6000 Intelligent Storage Router Extends Reach of SANs to Low Cost Servers
The QLogic SANbox 6000 Series is a family of fast, but affordable, iSCSI to Fibre Channel routers. It is now economically feasible and simple to attach low cost servers to high performance Fibre Channel storage in the datacenter. It is now cost effective to replicate data over long distances from remote sites to Fibre Channel SANs in the datacenter for disaster recovery. With wizard-based configuration, the SANbox 6000 Series sets the standard for storage router price/performance and ease-of-use.
SANbox 8000 Storage Services Platform Manages and Protects Data From One Location
The QLogic SANbox 8000 Storage Services Platform is a high performance, network-based platform for a variety of storage services including storage consolidation and continuous data protection. To support these services, the SANbox 8000 can host a variety of storage applications from leading storage software vendors such as CA, Revivio and StoreAge.
The SANbox 8000 integrates seamlessly into any vendor's SAN infrastructure, eliminating the need for expensive upgrades. This is possible because the SANbox 8000 attaches to the SAN as an end-node (N-Port), which enables it to remain SAN (and SAN vendor) independent. The SANbox 8000 is uniquely capable of connecting to multiple SAN islands simultaneously, extending data management/protection functionality and storage resources across the entire infrastructure from a centralized location.
Based on exclusive ReadyPath(tm) technology from QLogic, the SANbox 8000 eliminates latencies that translate into performance that is ten to one hundred times faster than competitive solutions. This level of performance is achieved with hardware-based acceleration of key application operations and by combining a non-blocking switching architecture with high-speed processing capabilities. In comparison to traditional appliance approaches where all data moves up to the CPU, QLogic ReadyPath Technology ensures that nearly all Data I/O remains in the ASIC switching subsystem.
SANbox 9000 Multi-Layer, Multi-Protocol Switch: A New Class of Fibre Channel Switch
The QLogic SANbox 9000 Series is a family of multi-layer, multi- protocol Fibre Channel "distribution" switches for the datacenter. For maximum port density, the low-profile 4u chassis supports eight 4Gb switch blades for a total of 128 ports. For maximum performance, the SANbox 9000 can also support eight 10Gb switch blades for a total of 32 ports. To handle the connectivity challenges in the datacenter, the SANbox 9000 will provide iSCSI and FCIP blades for bridging and routing. And for volume management, data replication and other storage applications, a Storage Services Platform blade will be available to host applications from a variety of software vendors. The SANbox 9000 also features redundant power and cooling for fault tolerance.
InfiniPath InfiniBand HCAs Deliver Fastest Cluster Interconnect in the Industry
QLogic InfiniBand adapters deliver industry-leading performance in a cluster interconnect, allowing organizations to gain maximum performance and return from their investment in clustered systems. InfiniPath yields the lowest latency, and the highest message rate and effective bandwidth of any cluster or storage interconnect available. As a result, organizations relying on clustered systems for critical computing tasks will gain a significant increase in productivity. The superior performance of the InfiniPath interconnect enables scientists, researchers and engineers to tackle a wider range of applications faster and more efficiently.
The InfiniPath HyperMessaging Architecture is the key to InfiniPath's tremendous performance advantage. It allows InfiniPath to support more than 10 million messages per second, which is over 6 times more messages per second than any other cluster interconnect. As a result, end-user organizations relying on InfiniBand-based clustered systems for high-performance computing tasks will significantly increase the scalability of their applications, reduce network fabric congestion and gain overall cluster efficiency.
About QLogic
QLogic is a leading supplier of high performance storage networking solutions including Fibre Channel host bus adapters (HBAs), blade server embedded Fibre Channel switches, Fibre Channel stackable switches, iSCSI HBAs, iSCSI routers and storage services platforms for enabling advanced storage management applications. The company is also a leading supplier of server networking products including InfiniBand host channel adapters that accelerate cluster performance. QLogic products are delivered to small-to-medium business and large enterprises around the world via its channel partner community. QLogic's products are also powering solutions from leading companies like Cisco, Dell, EMC, Hitachi Data Systems, HP, IBM, NEC, Network Appliance and Sun Microsystems. QLogic is a member of the S&P 500 Index. For more information go to 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: potential fluctuations in operating results; gross margins that may vary over time; revenues may be affected by changes in IT spending levels; the stock price of the Company may be volatile; the Company's dependence on the storage area network market; the ability to maintain and gain market or industry acceptance of the Company's products; the Company's dependence on a limited number of customers; seasonal fluctuations and uneven sales patterns in orders from customers; the Company's ability to compete effectively with other companies; declining average unit sales prices of comparable products; a reduction in sales efforts by current distributors; reliance on third party licenses; dependence on sole source and limited source suppliers; the Company's dependence on relationships with certain silicon chip suppliers; the complexity of the Company's products; sales fluctuations arising from customer transitions to new products; the uncertainty associated with SOX 404 compliance; environmental compliance costs; terrorist activities and resulting military actions; international, economic, regulatory, political and other risks; uncertain benefits from strategic business combinations; the ability to maintain or expand upon strategic alliances; the strain on resources caused by growth and expansion; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; the decreased effectiveness of equity compensation; difficulties in transitioning to smaller geometry process technologies; the ability to protect proprietary rights; the ability to satisfactorily resolve any infringement claims; changes in tax laws or adverse tax audit results; computer viruses and other tampering with the Company's computer systems; charter documents and stockholder rights plan that may discourage a business combination; and facilities of the Company and its suppliers and customers are located in areas subject to natural disasters.
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.
QLogic and the QLogic logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of QLogic Corporation. SANblade is a registered trademark in the United States. Other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of the companies with which they are associated.
