QLogic and Hitachi Data Systems Team to Deliver Certified Enterprise Solutions

Hitachi Data Systems to Resell QLogic SANblade Host Bus Adapters Worldwide


ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Dec. 09, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- QLogic Corp. (Nasdaq:QLGC), the company that powers storage area networks (SANs), today announced that it has formed a relationship with Hitachi Data Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT). As a result of this new relationship, Hitachi Data Systems will resell QLogic 2Gb SANblade(tm) host bus adapters (HBAs) to its broad base of enterprise customers.

"Hitachi Data Systems recognizes QLogic as a technology leader with established and increasing market share in storage networking infrastructure," said Scott Genereux, Vice President of Global Marketing and Business Development at Hitachi Data Systems. "Together we are working to deliver certified components that provide our customers with simplified, easy-to-deploy Fibre Channel SAN environments that support open standards, interoperability and high performance."

Hitachi Data Systems will resell and support QLogic HBA's in multiple storage networking solutions and operating environments, including Windows, Solaris and Linux. Today's announcement builds on QLogic's longstanding commitment to delivering Hitachi Data Systems-qualified QLogic HBAs and switches, and QLogic will continue to deliver application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) controllers for Hitachi hard disk drives. To ensure maximum interoperability in Hitachi Data Systems storage environments, the two companies have invested extensive resources in completing qualification testing for QLogic HBA and switch products.

"With its strong global reach, Hitachi Data Systems is rapidly changing the face of storage networking," said Frank Berry, vice president of marketing, QLogic Corp. "We're pleased to offer our SANblade HBAs to Hitachi Data Systems' broad range of enterprise customers. The open and collaborative approach of Hitachi Data Systems gives enterprises the ability to implement the best-of-breed solutions that fit their needs. Our relationship with Hitachi Data Systems allows our customers to fully leverage their storage investments."

QLogic SANblade HBAs

QLogic 2Gb SANblade HBAs have won "Editor's Choice" and "Well Connected" awards from Network Computing magazine. SANblade HBAs offer an extensive checklist of features and benefits that is unmatched in the industry, including performance of up to 80,000 Input/Output operations per second (IOPs) and native support for Sun Solaris, Microsoft(r) Windows NT(r) and Windows 2000, and Windows Server 2003, Novell(r) NetWare, Red Hat(r) Linux(r) and SuSE Linux.

Powered by Qlogic

Since 1993, over 45 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, 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 recently named to Fortune's 100 Fastest Growing Companies list for the fourth consecutive year and was named to Business Week's list of 100 Hot Growth Companies for 2003. In addition, QLogic was named to Forbes' Best 200 Small Companies for the fifth consecutive year during fiscal year 2004. For more information visit www.qlogic.com.

About Hitachi Data Systems

Hitachi Data Systems leverages global R&D resources to develop storage solutions built on industry-leading technology with the performance, availability and scalability to maximize customers' ROI and minimize their risk. By focusing on the customer's perspective as we apply the best hardware, software, and services from Hitachi and our partners, we uniquely satisfy our customers' business needs.

With 2,700 employees, Hitachi Data Systems conducts business through direct and indirect channels in the public, government and private sectors in over 170 countries. Its customers include more than 50 percent of Fortune 100 companies. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.hds.com (http://www.hds.com).

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company, with approximately 340,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2002 (ended March 31, 2003) consolidated sales totaled 8,191.7 billion yen ($68.3 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors, including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's Web site at (http://global.hitachi.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 within 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 wishes to advise 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 and fluctuations or cancellations in orders from customers; the ability to compete effectively with other companies; 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; terrorist activities and resulting military actions; international, economic, regulatory, political and other risks; changes in semiconductor foundry capacity; 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; and the ability to protect proprietary rights or to satisfactorily resolve any infringement claims.

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.

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