QLogic Fibre Down Powers RLX ServerBlades

Simplified SAN Connectivity Fuels the Growing Blade Server Market


ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Oct. 7, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- QLogic Corp. (Nasdaq:QLGC), the company that powers storage area networks (SANs), today announced its Fibre Down(tm) technology is now shipping as an option to the RLX ServerBlade 2800i and ServerBlade 3000i, from RLX Technologies, the company that started the blade server revolution and the next generation of modular computing.

RLX ServerBlades are complete modular computing platforms that include processor, memory, storage, network functionality, operating system, and management, all within a single blade. RLX offers the industry's most complete line of blade servers and management solutions from high-density, single-processor blades to their newest high-performance, dual-processor blades.

Starting October 15, RLX will feature QLogic Fibre Down, the integration of single-chip Fibre Channel host adapters, and management controllers, as an option for all its high-performance ServerBlades. Designed for ultra-dense data center environments, Fibre Down technology dramatically increases the storage expansion capabilities of ServerBlades by providing very reliable, high-bandwidth, long-distance connectivity to Fibre Channel SANs.

"By creating ServerBlades, offering the right storage options, and the software required to manage them, RLX has set the standard in modular computing and the server blade market," said Scott Farrand, vice president of systems engineering, RLX Technologies, Inc. "Our partnership with QLogic ensures our customers receive the most powerful and cost-effective modular computing solution and high-performance connectivity to Fibre Channel SANs."

"Fibre Down technology from QLogic offers RLX customers fast, reliable and scalable storage expansion in an ultra-compact form factor," said Roger Klein, vice president of product management for host products, QLogic Network Storage Group. "QLogic is providing powerful capabilities that are revolutionizing computing, by supporting the convergence of networking, storage and server processing."

The Blade Server Revolution

The Internet has changed the server usage model from single servers to higher density server farms. However, system administrators find deployment and operation difficult. Server resilience and complexity are serious problems for large-scale server farms. There are also problems associated with securing and managing large numbers of servers.

Modular computing and blade servers address these issues by stacking independent servers within a single cabinet. Each blade is an independent system with its own memory, processor and network connection. Multiple blade servers can be placed in a single rack or enclosure, and all blades can be managed and virtualized via a single console.

Blade Server Infrastructure Powered by QLogic

QLogic offers a family of single chip products that form a complete I/O infrastructure for dense blade servers. Single chip HBAs, switches and management controllers from QLogic provide fast, reliable and scalable storage expansion in an ultra-compact form-factor.

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

Note: All QLogic-issued press releases appear on the company's web site (www.qlogic.com). Any announcement that does not appear on the QLogic web site has not been issued by QLogic.

Disclaimer - Forward Looking Statements

With the exception of historical information, the statements set forth above include 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. QLogic wishes to advise readers that these potential risks and uncertainties relate to, but are not limited to, in no particular order: the introduction of new and changing technologies in our industry and customer acceptance of those technologies; a change in semiconductor foundry capacity or conditions; fluctuations in the growth of I/O markets; fluctuations or cancellations in orders from OEM customers; QLogic's ability to compete effectively with other companies; cancellation of OEM products associated with design wins; and fluctuations in our operating results and our stock price.

More detailed information on these and additional factors which could affect QLogic's operating and financial results are described in QLogic's Forms 10-Q, 10-K and other reports, filed or to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. QLogic urges all interested parties to read these reports to gain a better understanding of the many business and other risks that QLogic faces. Additionally, QLogic undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements, which may be made to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Note to Editors: Trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of the companies with which they are associated.



            

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