QLogic SANbox 3100 Switch Integrated into Avid Unity MediaNetwork


LAS VEGAS, April 18, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- NAB Show -- QLogic Corp. (Nasdaq:QLGC), the company that powers storage area networks (SANs), today announced that the new QLogic SANbox(r) 3100 Fibre Channel switch will be sold as part of Avid Technology, Inc.'s Avid Unity(tm) MediaNetwork shared storage solution. The QLogic SANbox 3100 is a highly reliable 16-port 2Gb Fibre Channel switch that features full crossbar architecture and QLogic I/O Streamguard, enhancing the performance of demanding video applications at a lower cost to customers than other 2Gb switches.

Designed specifically for storing and sharing high-bandwidth, high-resolution media, Avid Unity MediaNetwork solutions offer significant performance, workflow, and administrative advantages over standard postproduction editing solutions. Built on Avid's highly optimized file system architecture, Avid Unity MediaNetwork delivers a full range of uncompressed and compressed media in real time. Editing, finishing, audio, and graphics work can all take place at the same time -- using the same media files and projects -- in a dynamic, shared workspace.

FilmCore, a commercial editing company that has worked with many of the world's leading advertising agencies, is using the SANbox 3100 switch with its Avid Unity MediaNetwork. "The high performance and reliability of the switch is an excellent addition to our Avid Unity setup," said Rick Breniser, technical director at FilmCore.

Lesley Glorioso, product marketing manager at Avid, said, "We selected the SANbox 3100 because it delivers the high performance and reliability that Avid Unity MediaNetwork customers demand. It's this level of quality that has made Avid the industry's leading shared media network provider, along with our ability to focus on the needs of digital content creation and to deliver the ultimate in workflow flexibility with support for Mac, Windows, and any network aware system."

QLogic SANbox 3100 Switch -- Optimized for Video Applications

The SANbox 3100 provides several features that make it ideal for video production applications including full crossbar non-blocking architecture for the industry's lowest latency switching performance, a highly integrated single ASIC architecture for unsurpassed reliability, and QLogic I/O Streamguard. I/O StreamGuard is a unique QLogic feature that manages Registered State Change Notifications (RSCNs) of a Fibre Channel Fabric, allowing SANbox switches to deliver un-interrupted data flow, specifically in sequential data applications like video and audio.

Key SANbox 3100 Features



 -- 16 auto-detecting 2Gb/1Gb user device ports
 -- Configuration wizards to simplify switch installation and fabric
    scaling
 -- Interoperable with all FC-SW-2 compliant Fibre Channel switches
 -- Full-fabric, public-loop or switch-to-switch connectivity on all
    ports.
 -- Auto-sensing, self-configuring ports
 -- Non-blocking full-bandwidth architecture
 -- I/O StreamGuard for RSCN Suppression
 -- "No-Wait" routing -- guaranteed maximum performance independent of
    data traffic
 -- Industry's lowest latency for maximum performance
 -- SFP (small form pluggable) connectivity
 -- In-band, out-of-band, Telnet and SNMP management access
 -- SANbox(r) Manager, or Avid(r) Media Manager open management system
    designed for seamless operation with higher-level third-party
    management applications
 -- ASIC-embedded memory -- faster, more scalable and more reliable
    than shared memory architecture

"Avid Unity solutions are the backbone of today's high-output media production environments," said Frank Berry, vice president of marketing, QLogic Corp. "The 16 port SANbox 3100 is a perfect complement to Avid Unity systems, which allow customers to add editing stations as their post-production environment grows."

Powered by QLogic

Since 1993, over 50 million QLogic products have shipped inside servers, workstations, RAID subsystems, tape libraries, disk and tape drives. These products were delivered to small, medium and large enterprises around the world. Powering solutions from leading companies like Cisco, Dell, EMC, Fujitsu, Hitachi, HP, IBM, NEC, Network Appliance, Quantum, StorageTek and Sun Microsystems, the broad line of QLogic controller chips, host bus adapters, network switches and management software move data from storage devices through the network fabric to servers. A member of the S&P 500 and NASDAQ 100, QLogic was named to the following during fiscal year 2004: (i) Fortune's 100 Fastest Growing Companies list for the fourth consecutive year; (ii) Forbes' Best 200 Small Companies for the fifth consecutive year; and (iii) Business Week's list of 100 Hot Growth Companies. For more information visit www.qlogic.com.

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: the volatility of the Company's stock price; fluctuations in operating results; the dependence on the storage area network market; the ability to maintain and gain market or industry acceptance of the Company's products; the dependence on a limited number of customers; seasonal fluctuations and uneven sales patterns in orders from customers; the ability to compete effectively with other companies; declining average unit sales prices of comparable products; a reduction in sales efforts by current distributors; the dependence on relationships with certain silicon chip suppliers and other subcontractors; the complexity of the Company's products; sales fluctuations arising from customer transitions to new products; terrorist activities and resulting military actions; international, economic, regulatory, political and other risks; changes in semiconductor foundry capacity; uncertain benefits from strategic business combinations; the ability to maintain or expand upon strategic alliances; the strain on resources caused by rapid growth and expansion; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; the ability to protect proprietary rights or to satisfactorily resolve any infringement claims; changes in tax laws or adverse audit results; decreasing effectiveness of equity compensation in employee retention; charter documents and stockholder rights plan that may discourage a business combination; and facilities located in areas subject to earthquakes.

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 undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

(c)2004-2005 QLogic Corporation. Specifications are subject to change without notice. All rights reserved worldwide. QLogic, the QLogic logo and the powered by QLogic logo are registered trademarks of QLogic Corporation. All other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Avid and Avid Unity are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.



            

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