ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Nov. 1, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- QLogic Corp. (Nasdaq:QLGC), a leader in networking for storage and high performance computing (HPC), today announced that its SANbox(r) 5600Q Series Fibre Channel stackable switches are now available from Hitachi Data Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT), and authorized Hitachi Data Systems resellers. SANbox 5600Q Series Fibre Channel stackable switches scale from eight to 16 user ports with the option to stack up to six SANbox 5600Q switches via four-packs of high speed 10Gb Fibre Channel inter-switch link (ISL) ports, yielding 96 total user ports. Additionally, Hitachi Data Systems has simplified the configuration of their SANbox 5600Q offerings, to include cost-competitive eight, 16 or 20 active port versions, along with all necessary 4Gb small form factor pluggables (SFPs) and applicable rail kits. This innovative approach gives customers seamless scalability and high performance in a pay-as-you-grow solution.
"The addition of the 5600Q Series is another in a long line of examples of how Hitachi Data Systems empowers its customers with best-of-breed storage networking solutions," said Jesse Parker, vice president and general manager, QLogic Network Solutions Group. "By combining these highly innovative switches with Hitachi Data Systems storage solutions, customers can implement powerful, scaleable storage networks."
"Hitachi Data Systems customers appreciate innovative, scalable storage networking solutions and the SANbox 5600Q Series embodies both of those characteristics," said Steve TenBarge, vice president, Global Product Marketing, Hitachi Data Systems. "Stackable Fibre Channel switches enable businesses to easily and quickly grow their SAN user ports. Companies can start with as few as eight ports and ramp up to 96 ports by simply adding more switches to the stack. The dedicated 10Gb ISL ports make the process clean and easy."
SANbox 5600Q Series Stackable Switches - The Ultimate in SAN Scalability
Following the successful model of stackable IP switches, QLogic pioneered the category of Fibre Channel stackable switches with the introduction of the SANbox 5000 Series, the first stackable Fibre Channel switches and the first products to deliver 10Gb Fibre Channel technology. With sixteen 4Gb ports plus a four-pack of high speed 10Gb ISL ports, and entry as low as eight ports with four-port, software-keyed increments and graphical user interface (GUI) wizards, each SANbox 5600Q Series stackable switch provides maximum flexibility for configuring, managing and scaling SANs.
QLogic Enterprise Fabric Suite 2007 - Powerful, Intuitive and Easy
The addition of the "Q" model designation to the QLogic SANbox 5600 Series indicates products that ship with the latest 6.x-level firmware, which features full support for the new QLogic Enterprise Fabric Suite 2007 management platform. QLogic Enterprise Fabric Suite 2007 is a fully integrated, seamless application suite of simple and powerful fabric management tools for QLogic SAN fabrics. This powerful platform gives businesses a suite of tools for setup, configuration, fabric management, fabric monitoring, performance monitoring and configuring the extended distance capability on SANbox switches. Users can manage an unlimited number of switches and an unlimited number of fabrics, all from a single application.
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.
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.