ALISO VIEJO, Calif., June 21, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- QLogic Corp. (Nasdaq:QLGC), the leader in Fibre Channel host bus adapters (HBAs), stackable switches and blade server switches, today announced the QLogic(r) Intelligent Pass-Thru Module for IBM BladeCenter(tm), an innovative, cost-effective solution for networking storage in BladeCenter environments. In the past, BladeCenter customers had two choices for storage connectivity -- they could implement one vendor's full fabric switch and set up a single vendor fabric, or as a trade-off in functionality, a lower cost optical pass-thru module offering multi-vendor interoperability. With the introduction of the QLogic Intelligent Pass-Thru Module for IBM BladeCenter, using industry standard NPIV and QLogic transparent switch technology, businesses can now have the best of both worlds -- a low-cost, multi-vendor interoperable solution that unleashes all the functional advantages of full fabric switching.
The affordably priced QLogic Intelligent Pass-Thru Module for IBM BladeCenter provides several benefits to businesses including:
-- Cable consolidation and efficient utilization of fabric switch
ports
-- Extremely low power consumption
-- Full support for 2Gb and 4Gb initiators from QLogic, as well as
other HBA vendors
-- Low total cost of ownership -- approximately 50 percent less than
older optical pass-thru module implementations
-- Easy installation
-- Unlimited domain scaling capabilities
-- Easy upgradeability to Fibre Channel Switch Fabric-2 (FC-SW2) full
fabric capabilities through a software license key
"The QLogic Intelligent Pass-Thru Module for IBM BladeCenter solves switch-to-switch compatibility problems, providing an elegant solution for scaling fabrics without increasing management complexity," said Jesse Parker, vice president and general manager, QLogic Network Solutions Group. "By utilizing the NPIV standard, the QLogic Intelligent Pass-Thru Module for IBM BladeCenter delivers seamless interoperability for all BladeCenter environments."
"We are pleased to be working with QLogic, a member of Blade.org, to deliver an intelligent pass-thru module that will provide customers with more SAN-attach options for BladeCenter," said Alex Yost, vice president and business line executive, IBM BladeCenter. "As a new addition to BladeCenter Open Fabric, this new family of modules is easy to implement and easy to use with all existing SAN fabrics, or as a direct attach to disk and tape storage."
Customers will find it easy to set up the QLogic Pass-Thru Module for IBM BladeCenter and upgrading to full fabric capabilities is also simple. A software license key allows customers to upgrade to Fibre Channel Switch Fabric-2 (FC-SW2) full fabric capabilities.
Availability
The QLogic intelligent pass-thru module for IBM BladeCenter is available now and can be ordered by IBM customers as part number 43W6723. IBM BladeCenter customers can find additional information at www.ibm.com/bladecenter.
Reliable SAN Infrastructure for Blade Servers From QLogic
Developer of the world's first embedded SAN infrastructure for blade servers, QLogic is the leading supplier of Fibre Channel embedded switches and HBAs for blade servers. QLogic HBAs and switches provide fast, reliable and scalable storage expansion in an ultra-compact form-factor. Delivering market-leading performance and reliability across the widest range of server and operating systems (OS) platforms, QLogic offers a suite of I/O technology advancements, based on InfiniBand, iSCSI and Fibre Channel technologies, that help storage administrators in large enterprises ensure complete business continuity, maintain application performance and cost-effectively scale their open-standard networks.
About QLogic
QLogic is a leading supplier of high-performance storage networking solutions, producing the controller chips, host bus adapters (HBAs) and fabric switches that are the backbone of storage networks for most Global 2000 corporations. The company delivers a broad and diverse portfolio of products that includes Fibre Channel 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 InfiniBand switches and InfiniBand host channel adapters for the emerging High Performance Computing Cluster (HPCC) market. QLogic products are delivered to small-to-medium businesses and large enterprises around the world via its channel partner community. QLogic 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.
Note: All QLogic-issued press releases appear on the company's Web site (www.qlogic.com). Any announcement that does not appear on the QLogic Web site 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; 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; environmental compliance costs; international economic, regulatory, political and other risks; uncertain benefits from strategic business combinations; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; difficulties in transitioning to smaller geometry process technologies; the ability to protect proprietary rights; the ability to satisfactorily resolve any infringement claims; reliance on third party technology; 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 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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