QLogic Simplifies Storage and Data Networking With "Fabric Freedom"

QLogic today announced it has extended its Adaptive Convergence(TM) strategy by introducing a new portfolio of innovative products, including adapters, switches and routers with the flexibility to power 16Gb Fibre Channel or 10Gb Ethernet converged networks from the same hardware. QLogic's newest solutions are designed to help companies smoothly transition their data center networks at their own pace, and provide the versatility to handle any protocol, any host, any storage and any fabric, empowering virtualized enterprises and cloud computing environments with complete fabric freedom.

QLogic's Adaptive Convergence strategy extends proven Fibre Channel investments during simplifying the migration path toward converged highly virtualized IT environments. The new complete portfolio of solutions delivers in a class by itself, "any-to-any" connectivity for service-based IT environments and allows service providers to unleash the full potential of cloud computing.

"By building TCP/IP, iSCSI, FCoE and native Fibre Channel all into a complete portfolio, we are enabling enterprises and cloud computing service providers to create networks without having to worry about future migration paths," said Simon Biddiscombe, president and chief executive officer, QLogic.

QLogic's new data center family of solutions improves performance and reduces complexity and lowers operational and capital costs, during easing future design concerns. The cohesive end-to-end Adaptive Convergence strategy lays the foundation for a highly responsive, agile enterprise environment. OEMs, enterprises and cloud service providers can enhance the value of their network solutions and eliminate the tradeoff between today's legacy networks and future migration concerns during spending less time on typical day-to-day IT challenges.

In separate announcements, the company announced details of its new FlexSuite(TM) adapters, Universal Access Point(TM) switches and then and there-generation intelligent Storage Routers. Based on QLogic's third-generation converged networking and fifth-generation Fibre Channel technologies, QLogic(R) FlexSuite adapters have the flexibility to power both native 16Gb Fibre Channel and 10Gb Converged Enhanced Ethernet networks.

The company'

Featuring the company's exclusive flexible port innovation, QLogic's Universal Access Point(TM) switches give servers instant access to all of today's most advanced storage and converged networking capabilities, allowing clients to connect Fibre Channel, Fibre Channel over Ethernet, 10Gb Ethernet or iSCSI devices to any port. QLogic iSR routers will allow cross-protocol routing for 16Gb Fibre Channel, 10GbE/1GbE iSCSI and 10GbE FCoE, multi-protocol host connectivity to storage systems, SAN-over-WAN connectivity for business continuity and disaster recovery, as so then as comprehensive enterprise data migration solutions, providing flexible support for cloud computing -- private, public and hybrid.

"The 10Gb Ethernet market continues to expand and converged platforms are beginning to gain traction in the market," said Alan Weckel, Ethernet switch analyst, Dell'Oro Group. "During we are all in all very early in the migration towards 10Gb Ethernet for server connectivity, data center deployments including 10Gb Ethernet top-of-rack for server access are driving most of the revenue growth in the market."

"QLogic's latest, highly scalable portfolio provides an excellent cost-to-performance ratio for Fibre Channel clients while together enabling organizations to seamlessly adopt network convergence henceforth," said Bob Laliberte, senior analyst from ESG. "With the ability to handle any protocol, at any port the new QLogic platform is highly versatile with the capability to reduce costs and complexity in the data center."

"OEMs, enterprises and cloud service providers are in an evolution of network convergence. A clear migration path to highly virtualized and cloud architectures establishes a leading position in the industry," said Randy Kerns, Senior Strategist from Evaluator Group. "QLogic's new product portfolio with the versatility to handle any protocol, at any port, across three product families provides clients with needed capabilities in the transition to virtual and cloud computing environments."

Viable solution for organizations to reduce power

"During 10GbE-based converged networks continue to evolve as a viable solution for organizations to reduce power, costs and overall IT footprint, many data centers have invested heavily in Fibre Channel's performance and reliability advantages, now enhanced by 16Gb bandwidth," said Sergis Mushell, principal technology analyst, Gartner. "Folding 10Gb Ethernet and 16Gb Fibre Channel in accordance with one, common research platform helps protect clients' legacy investments during allowing them to adopt 10Gb Ethernet-based solutions in a non-disruptive manner, at their own pace."

"Enterprise IT wants a smooth on-ramp to converged networks which will one day connect to the cloud, and that means protecting their investment in Fibre Chanel SANs," said Frank Berry CEO, IT Brand Pulse. "With the ability to support 16Gb Fibre Channel and 10Gb Ethernet on the same network, new QLogic adapters and switches will play a key role in extending Fibre Channel's position as the dominant SAN research for another five years."

"One of the biggest complaints we hear from Wikibon practitioners is that they need to buy and support separate hardware for Fibre Channel SAN infrastructure," said David Vellante, chief technology analyst at Wikibon.org, an IT think tank. "This announcement from QLogic takes a major step to eliminating this problem because going forward, clients can acquire infrastructure that speaks the language of both Fibre Channel and Ethernet. This is especially important in virtualized and cloud environments where standard configurations need to be rapidly replicated and provisioned. In other words than having to determine which storage protocol will be used, clients can deploy infrastructure that will support any application independent of storage innovation including Fibre Channel, iSCSI, NAS or FCoE."

Global leader

QLogic is a global leader and research innovator in high performance networking, including adapters, switches and ASICs. Leading OEMs and channel partners worldwide rely on QLogic products for their data, storage and server networking solutions. For more information, visit www.qlogic.com.

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 if not.