ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Nov. 13, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- QLogic(r) Corp. (Nasdaq:QLGC), the leader in Fibre Channel host bus adapters (HBAs), stackable switches and blade server switches, today announced that its Network Platform customer, Hollywood-based DigitalFilm Tree, Inc., has earned an award in the category of "Innovation and Promise" in Storage Networking World's (SNW) "Best Practices in Storage" program. DigitalFilm Tree (DFT) is a major innovator in digital workflow solutions, including rough-cut editing, composition and visual effects-generation. The company earned accolades for its work on projects such as Cold Mountain, Napoleon Dynamite, and NBC-Touchstone's Scrubs.
"All our post work goes through these switches," says DFT founder, Ramy Katrib. "Reliability is of highest importance, and we haven't had one glitch in the making of Crank; we didn't lose a single bit of data."
This summer, DFT pioneered the film industry's first shared area storage solution networked with the QLogic Network Platform featuring SANbox(r) switches. The switches from QLogic played a crucial role in enabling DFT to bring the fast-paced, all-digital action movie, Crank to the box office at searing speed. Using end-to-end QLogic SAN infrastructure, DFT was able to cost-effectively create a multiplatform network that provides postproduction artists the freedom to choose among sophisticated tools -- while allowing the company to deliver highest quality masters to customers in record time.
"We're honored the QLogic Network Platform played so pivotal a role in fulfilling DigitalFilm Tree's highly sophisticated and demanding post-production needs," said Frank Berry, QLogic VP of Corporate Marketing. "The recognition from SNW is well-placed for DigitalFilm Tree -- a company that marries technology and creativity with such stunning, high-value results."
Post-production tasks are performed using multiple applications on various standard operating systems, all built around a diverse mix of server platforms. To create its visual effects on deadline, DFT must churn through enormous numbers of scans and files, which requires reliable high-speed data sharing among the various server platforms.
At the core of DFT's architecture is a Fibre Channel storage area network interconnected with QLogic SANblade(r) HBAs and SANbox switches, coupled with ADIC StorNext FX and Apple Xsan shared file system software. Shared file systems allow DFT artists to collaborate seamlessly in an integrated environment. Working on various servers, the entire crew can access the complete catalogue of content at any time, without the worry that someone may be working off an older file. Connecting this diverse mix of servers with the high performing, extremely reliably and multiple OS-supporting QLogic SANbox series of stackable FC switches profoundly improved the efficiency of DFT's shared workflow.
When DFT needed to add four terabytes of capacity for the "Crank" project, in order to store and manage massive amounts of data, the company benefited from the quick scalability of SANbox switches, which can easily be added to an existing stack without disrupting the network, and even without the need for a SAN expert.
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 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.
About the "Best Practices in Storage" Awards Program
Sponsored by EMC, the Storage Networking World annual awards program, "Best Practices in Storage," identifies and acknowledges excellence among users of storage technology in the following categories:
-- Planning, Designing, and Building a Strategic Storage
Infrastructure
-- Storage Reliability and Data Recovery
-- Securing the Storage Fortress
-- Systems Implementation
-- Innovation and Promise
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; 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 attract and retain key personnel; recognition of compensation expense related to employee stock options and the Company's employee stock purchase plan; the decreased effectiveness of equity compensation; difficulties in implementing smaller geometry process technologies; the ability to protect proprietary rights; the ability to satisfactorily resolve any infringement claims; reliance on third party licenses; the use of "open source" software in our products; changes in our tax provisions or adverse outcomes resulting from examination of our income tax returns; computer viruses and other tampering with the Company's computer systems; 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 does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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