ALISO VIEJO, Calif., June 17, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- QLogic Corp. (Nasdaq:QLGC), a leader in networking for storage and high performance computing (HPC), today announced that the industry's first combination 4Gb Fibre Channel/1Gb Ethernet ExpressModule is now shipping for Sun Blade(tm) 6000 and 8000 systems. The plug-and-play QEM3472 ExpressModule, available from Sun as the Sun StorageTek(tm) Dual 4 Gb Fibre Channel Dual GbE ExpressModule Host Bus Adapter, can be added or removed without powering down or opening Sun Blade systems, maintaining precious uptime. Designed by QLogic based on the PCI ExpressModule industry standard specification the innovative quad port ExpressModule doubles the number of I/O ports available to users.
"Previously, if Sun Blade system customers wanted Ethernet or Fibre Channel ports, they could plug in a dual-port Ethernet ExpessModule or a dual-port Fibre Channel ExpressModule," said Amit Vashi, vice president of marketing, QLogic Host Solutions Group. "The QLogic QEM3472 ExpressModule maximizes server slots, incorporating two Fibre Channel and two Ethernet ports on a single card, doubling the number of available I/O ports."
"The new QLogic ExpressModule combines Ethernet and Fibre Channel into a single card in an industry standard PCI form factor, providing customers increased I/O density and a reduction of I/O cards in a non-proprietary blade I/O architecture," said Mike McNerney, director of x64 Blade Systems, Sun Microsystems. "The card is ideal for I/O rich applications like virtualization, allowing fewer I/O cards and reduced service requirements."
The QEM3472 ExpressModule -- Redefining Enterprise Class I/O Solutions
The QEM3472 ExpressModule, equipped with dual 4Gb Fibre Channel ports and dual 1Gb Ethernet ports, not only delivers unprecedented levels of performance and availability, but also provides intelligent networking features specific to enterprise class data centers. Redefining enterprise-class I/O solutions, the QEM3472 provides increased data protection, advanced frame routing, and enterprise-wide management capabilities.
Sun Blade Systems -- Open and Versatile
Sun delivers the industry's most open and versatile enterprise blade platform, with industry-leading performance, scalability and energy efficiency. Sun offers the broadest blade portfolio on the market, spanning UltraSPARC(r), AMD Opteron and Intel Xeon and supports operating systems including the Solaris 10 Operating System (OS), Linux, Windows and VMware. With hot-swappable, hot-pluggable, redundant modular components to optimize reliability, availability and serviceability, Sun Blade systems are the ideal solution for virtualization, high performance computing, web infrastructure and back office applications. More information on Sun's blade system portfolio is available at: www.sun.com/servers/blades/index.jsp. More information on the StorageTek Dual 4 Gb Fibre Channel Dual GbE ExpressModule HBA is available at http://www.sun.com/storagetek/storagenetworking/hba/dual/index.xml.
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 adapters for blade servers. QLogic adapters 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, 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 adapters, blade server embedded Fibre Channel switches, Fibre Channel stackable switches, iSCSI adapters 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 such as Cisco, Dell, EMC, Hitachi Data Systems, HP, IBM, Network Appliance and Sun Microsystems. QLogic is a member of the S&P 500 Index.
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.
QLogic and the QLogic logo are registered trademarks of QLogic Corporation. Other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of the companies with which they are associated. Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, Sun Blade, StorageTek and Solaris are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks of SPARC international, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc.