DALLAS, Oct. 16, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Storage Networking World -- QLogic Corp. (Nasdaq:QLGC), a leader in networking for storage and high-performance computing (HPC), today announced an array of new 8Gb Fibre Channel, 10Gb Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) and 20Gb InfiniBand high-performance networking technology. The technology is designed for "the new data center," which consists of densely consolidated servers and storage resulting from the deployment of virtualization, blade servers and multi-core processors. The new technology from QLogic will provide the performance, quality-of-service and green networking needed in these "High RPM" data centers. Several technology innovations will be showcased by QLogic at the fall Storage Networking World event including:
* The industry's first end-to-end family of 8Gb Fibre Channel adapters and switches available to OEMs * The industry's first 8Gb Fibre Channel adapters and switches deployed in end-user environments * The industry's most cost-effective, midrange Double Data Rate (DDR) InfiniBand switch with gateways to Fibre Channel storage networks and Ethernet data networks for high-performance Oracle RAC clusters * A DDR InfiniBand Host Channel Adapter (HCA) with the world's lowest latency and fastest messaging rate -- the standards for performance in HPC Clusters * The industry's first converged network featuring FCoE converged network adapters from QLogic, FCoE technology from Nuova Systems and FCoE storage from Network Appliance * StarPower(tm) -- a QLogic(r) technology initiative to deliver products that are best-in-class and environmentally friendly (green) through recyclable materials, energy efficiency and space savings * Active Power Management -- StarPower technology that is the industry's first to sense the type of PCI-Express bus that is present and provide power to the either four or eight lanes required for full performance and maximum energy efficiency
"SANs and server virtualization are forces behind the massive waves of server and storage consolidation that continue today," said Jeff Benck, president and chief operating officer, QLogic Corp. "Beginning in 2008, emerging high-performance networking technologies will power a new wave of 'network' consolidation."
"The server connectivity landscape changed dramatically between 2004 and 2008," said Richard Villars, vice president of storage systems research at IDC. "With continued levels of server and storage consolidation through virtualization plus the use of more powerful multi-core servers, companies will need higher performance networks to recognize the full benefits of these important data center solutions."
The First End-to-End Family of 8Gb Fibre Channel Adapters and Switches
8Gb Fibre Channel doubles the performance of today's 4Gb Fibre Channel storage networks while maintaining full backward compatibility with the large installed base of 4Gb and 2Gb Fibre Channel. Fast, reliable and energy efficient 8Gb Fibre Channel technology from QLogic is designed for virtualized environments with densely consolidated servers and storage. The unique portfolio of 8Gb Fibre Channel products from QLogic:
* Is the only end-to-end storage network offering with 8Gb Fibre
Channel HBAs and switches
* Includes the only suite of 8Gb Fibre Channel single and dual port
HBAs, blade server HBAs and switches
* Includes the only 8Gb HBAs with adaptive power management to
dynamically throttle adapter performance and power for maximum
energy efficiency
* Is the only end-to-end 8Gb storage network offering available
today to OEM customers
* Is the only end-to-end 8Gb storage network offering deployed
today in end-user environments
The First 8Gb Fibre Channel Adapters and Switches Deployed in End User Environments
CNBC and Chapman University deployed 8Gb Fibre Channel switches and HBAs from QLogic to evaluate the potential for developing higher definition graphics and maintaining continuous motion video at higher resolutions. While CNBC is hoping to keep pace with the move from standard-definition (720x486) to high definition (1920 x1080) broadcasting by creating enhanced graphics, the goal at Chapman University is to use a single 8Gb link to improve playback from 2K resolution (2048 x 1556) to continuous playback at a much higher 4K resolution (4096 x 3112). If they are able to achieve their goals, production editing at CNBC and Chapman will be done with finer detail and at faster speeds than ever before.
The Industry's Most Cost-Effective Midrange DDR InfiniBand Switch for High Performance Oracle RAC Clusters with Gateways to Fibre Channel Storage Networks and Ethernet Data Networks
The SilverStorm(tm) 9020 Enterprise Cluster Accelerator (ECA) multi-protocol InfiniBand director from QLogic is a cost-effective InfiniBand solution that powers Oracle Real Application Clusters (RAC). Available now to end-user customers, the SilverStorm 9020 ECA is designed specifically for high performance Oracle RAC clusters supporting up to 22 DDR hosts. By including the Oracle Certified Reliable Datagram Sockets (RDS) protocol, only available through QLogic, customers have an Oracle certified solution comparable in performance to larger SMP solutions, but at a fraction of the cost. The 9020 ECA is available in a 2U enclosure and can be configured for complete redundancy, yet takes less rack space and power than any competitive InfiniBand director available today. The 9020 is designed to meet the requirements of Oracle's most demanding enterprise customers today, yet can grow when needed to meet the demands of tomorrow.
The First FCoE Storage Network with Converged Network Adapters from QLogic, FCoE Technology from Nuova Systems and FCoE Storage from Network Appliance
At Storage Networking World, QLogic is demonstrating the first complete FCoE converged network in collaboration with Nuova Systems and Network Appliance. The technology demo includes FCoE converged network adapters from QLogic, technology from Nuova Systems and FCoE storage from Network Appliance. SNW attendees will see how they can leverage their existing Fibre Channel software stack and seamlessly integrate FCoE storage to realize a greater return on their storage networking investment with a single, converged fabric.
QLogic DDR InfiniBand Host Channel Adapter (HCA) Delivers World's Fastest Messaging Rate
In high-performance computing environments, performance is everything and cluster interconnects typically define the performance of a high-performance computing cluster. The QLE7200 Series of InfiniBand host channel adapters offer the world's lowest latency and fastest messaging rate -- the standards for performance of a cluster interconnect. The result is scientists, engineers and quantitative analysts (quants) in the financial industry are more productive because they can finish their jobs faster and run more jobs on their HPC clusters.
QLogic StarPower(tm) -- a Technology Initiative to Deliver Products that are Best-in-Class and Environmentally Friendly by Addressing Recyclable Materials, Energy Efficiency and Space Savings
Practicing green HPC and storage networking takes into account a triple bottom line of economic viability, social responsibility and environmental impact. With StarPower technology inside, QLogic networking solutions deliver best-in-class performance plus address recycling, energy efficiency and space savings. Highlights of the QLogic StarPower technology initiative include:
* The SANbox(r) 9000 Fibre Channel director switch takes less rack
space and power than any competitive Fibre Channel director
available today.
* The SilverStorm 9020 InfiniBand director switch takes less rack
space and power than any competitive InfiniBand director
available today.
* QLogic SANblade(r) 8Gb Fibre Channel host bus adapters, 10Gb
FCoE converged network adapters and 20Gb DDR InfiniBand host
channel adapters incorporate adaptive power management for
maximum energy efficiency.
* QLogic is a contributing member of the Green Grid, a consortium
of information technology companies and professionals seeking
to lower the overall consumption of power in data centers around
the globe.
* QLogic is a member of the SNIA Green Storage Initiative which
is dedicated to advancing energy efficiency and conservation in
all networked storage technologies in an effort to minimize the
environmental impact of data storage operations.
Active Power Management -- StarPower Technology that Senses the Amount of Power Required for Maximum Performance and Maximum Energy Efficiency
Servers in today's data center incorporate either first generation (Gen 1) or second generation (Gen 2) PCI-Express. With aggregate throughput of 20Gb, all eight lanes of a Gen 1 PCI-Express bus are required to support a dual-port 8Gb (16Gb) host bus adapter. With Gen 2 servers having doubled throughput, only four lanes are required to support a dual port 8Gb HBA. New QLogic host bus adapters feature adaptive power management, the ability to sense the type of PCI-Express bus that is present and provide power to either four or eight lanes required for full performance. The result is a unique combination of maximum performance and maximum energy efficiency.
About QLogic
QLogic is a leading supplier of high-performance storage networking solutions, which include the controller chips, host adapters 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 and iSCSI routers. The company is also a leading supplier of InfiniBand switches and InfiniBand host channel adapters for the emerging high-performance computing 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, 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 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; potential adverse effects of server virtualization technology on the company's business; potential adverse effects of increased market acceptance of blade servers; 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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