ORLANDO, Fla., April 8, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Storage Networking World -- QLogic Corp. (Nasdaq:QLGC), a leader in networking for storage and high performance computing (HPC), today announced that NetApp and QLogic are demonstrating the industry's first end-to-end 8Gb Fibre Channel network to include native 8Gb Fibre Channel storage. For the first time, customers can see the full power of 8Gb Fibre Channel networks powered by QLogic(r) SANbox(r) 5800 Series switches, 2500 Series host bus adapters (HBAs) and 8Gb storage from NetApp. The two companies are also demonstrating the benefits of unified data and storage networks, showcasing the new QLogic 8000 Series converged network adapters (CNAs) and native Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) storage from NetApp. Both demonstrations will provide customers with a glimpse at each network's ability to enhance data center IT flexibility and efficiency in virtualized environments.

"Data center managers need flexible solutions tailored to their specific application environment," said Patrick Rogers, vice president of Solutions Marketing at NetApp. "At SNW, we're teaming with QLogic to demonstrate NetApp's ongoing leadership in advanced storage networking by delivering the only unified platform that supports 8Gb Fibre Channel solutions for customers expanding their current SAN architecture, and demonstrating native FCoE solutions to leverage the economics and simplicity of Ethernet fabrics."

"We are hearing from customers that multi-core processors, blade servers and virtual machine sprawl are stressing their data center infrastructure," said Frank Berry, vice president of marketing, QLogic Corp. "Our goal is to apply our expertise in storage, data and server networking to help our customers transform their data centers into an efficient computing environment that is consolidated, virtualized and simpler to manage."

QLogic 2500 Series HBAs -- Transforming Server Connectivity into Competitive Advantage

The QLogic 2500 Series is a family of 8Gb Fibre Channel-to-PCIe Gen2 HBAs designed for next generation virtualized data centers with powerful multi-processor, multi-core servers. QLogic 2500 Series HBAs are optimized for virtualization, power, RAS (reliability, availability, serviceability), security and management to transform server connectivity into competitive advantage. The 2500 Series provides complete investment protection by maintaining backward compatibility with previous Fibre Channel network and PCIe host bus speeds, and are set apart from all other 8Gb Fibre Channel HBAs thanks to two breakthrough innovations under the QLogic Star Power(tm) Green Initiative -- Dynamic Power Management and Cool HBA technologies. Dynamic power management is the unique ability of the QLogic 2500 to sense the type of PCI Express bus that is present and consume only the amount of power necessary to run at full speed. QLogic Cool HBA technology is the ability of QLogic products like 2500 HBAs to operate without any airflow, unlike competitive products that require fans to be cool.

SANbox 5800 8Gb Fibre Channel Switches -- For Superior Scalability

The SANbox 5800 Series is a family of 8Gb Fibre Channel switches designed to provide the absolute most cost-efficient way to scale a storage network. In addition to blazing 8Gb performance, SANbox 5800 Series switches help eliminate the cost and complexity of trunking inter-switch links (ISLs) with QLogic stackable switch technology that's turbo-charged by the industry's first implementation of 20Gb Fibre Channel. With stackable switch technology, SAN architects can scale a fabric with no wasted ports for ISLs, fees for trunking or disruption to the fabric, and with 20Gb Fibre Channel stack interconnects, the SANbox 5800 is the only 8Gb Fibre Channel switch with the ability to handle more than 8Gb of inter-switch traffic without the cost and complexity of trunking.

QLogic 8000 Series CNAs -- Make Your Converged Network Fly

The QLogic 8000 Series is a family of converged network adapters designed for next generation virtualized and unified data centers with powerful multi-processor, multi-core servers. QLogic 8000 Series CNAs are optimized for both data and storage (FCoE) networking virtualization with fierce 10GbE performance to handle large numbers of virtual machines. QLogic 8000 Series CNAs also reduce data center Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) by enabling consolidation of data and storage networking onto a single adapter to reduce cabling, power and cooling. And by using the same industry standard SAN services, QLogic driver architecture and QLogic management tools already deployed with the largest installed base of Fibre Channel HBAs in the world, the QLogic 8000 Series CNAs completely protect customer investments in their existing Fibre Channel SANs.

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, NetApp 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, the QLogic logo and SANbox are registered trademarks of QLogic Corporation. Other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of the companies with which they are associated.

CONTACT:  QLogic Corporation
          Editor's Contact:
          Frank Berry
            949/389-6499
            frank.berry@qlogic.com
          Investor's Contact:
          Jeanie Herbert
            949/389-6343
            jeanie.herbert@qlogic.com