ALISO VIEJO, Calif., May 8, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- QLogic Corp. (Nasdaq:QLGC), the leader in Fibre Channel host bus adapters (HBAs), stackable switches and blade server switches, today announced that it is working with Microsoft to integrate N-Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) technology with Microsoft's virtualization management solution, System Center Virtual Machine Manager. The result is that Virtual Machine Manager, part of the Microsoft System Center management suite, will have the capability to create and provision virtual SANblade HBA ports across multiple physical servers. Storage administrators who deploy Microsoft Virtual Machine Manager along with QLogic(r) SANblade(r) 2400 Series 4Gb Fibre Channel HBAs will be able to create virtual machines and ports that are easier to deploy, manage, and support across a virtualized data center.
"Because it provides a unified interface for managing virtual machines and the related physical resources, Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) is the preferred management application for Windows-based server virtualization," said Mike Neil, General Manager for Virtualization Strategy, Microsoft. "By eliminating the need for complicated tasks such as reconfiguring zones, server administrators will be able to easily and quickly perform migrations of virtual machines."
Microsoft VMM and SANblade HBAs for an Easy-to-Manage and Secure Data Center
Microsoft is collaborating with QLogic and other Fibre Channel HBA vendors to define a standards-based approach to support NPIV within the Windows operating system (OS) architecture and management application interface. The Microsoft System Center VMM tool initiates systems calls to the HBA to create, delete, modify and query virtual ports. Storage administrators can create virtual HBA ports within multiple zones and assign them to virtual machines (VMs) for migrations, without having to reconfigure any zoning or LUN masking settings. The solution will be available to customers during the second half of 2007.
Without virtual HBA ports, storage administrators must use the physical HBA World Wide Port Name (WWPN) to define fabric zones, mask storage LUNs, and configure VMs. In addition, storage administrators typically define one zone where all disks are exposed to every server to support live migrations of VMs to new servers. This one-zone design creates security concerns for disks with sensitive information and requires the reconfiguration of the network if more than one zone is defined. Virtual HBA ports allow storage administrators to bind VMs to storage and define multiple zones using the virtual port parameters, creating an easier-to-manage and more secured virtualized environment.
"Microsoft has extended its leadership position in the server virtualization management market by offering System Center VMM and supporting NPIV technology," said Amit Vashi, senior director marketing, QLogic Host Solutions Group. "Instead of creating a separate management utility used solely for the management of virtual HBA ports, QLogic is enabling the technology by collaborating with independent software vendors (ISVs) such as Microsoft and developing standards-based protocols for virtual port management. Storage administrators prefer to use a single management tool such as Microsoft VMM to manage, deploy, and configure virtual machines, virtual ports, and other resources."
SANblade: The Top Enterprise HBA
QLogic market share leadership is driven by IT professionals in Global 2000 corporate datacenters that are deploying SANblade Fibre Channel HBAs. It's not surprising when you consider that SANblade HBAs deliver market-leading performance and reliability across the widest range of server and operating systems platforms. SANblade HBAs from QLogic offer a suite of technology advancements that help storage administrators in large enterprises ensure complete business continuity, maintain application performance and cost-effectively scale their networks. Data from the Dell'Oro Group 4Q2006 SAN Report shows that the installed base of QLogic 4Gb and 2Gb Fibre Channel HBA ports is now 2.88 million, compared to 2.74 million for the nearest competitor, giving QLogic the largest installed base of 4Gb and 2Gb Fibre Channel HBA ports in the world. The Dell'Oro report also shows that in 2006 QLogic became the first company to ship one million Fibre Channel HBA ports in a single year. The figures show that QLogic shipped 1.02 million Fibre Channel HBA ports last year, outpacing its nearest competitor by more than a quarter million ports.
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 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; 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.
QLogic and the QLogic logo are registered trademarks of QLogic Corporation. SANblade is a registered trademark in the United States. Other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of the companies with which they are associated.