ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 31, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Storage Networking World -- QLogic Corp. (Nasdaq:QLGC), the leader in Fibre Channel host bus adapters (HBAs), stackable switches and blade server switches, today is unveiling the first network platform for storage and server area networking with end-to-end connectivity from host adapters to switched fabrics. Designed for I.T. professionals that simplify and save by deploying common infrastructure, the QLogic Network Platform unifies Fibre Channel, iSCSI, Ethernet and InfiniBand technologies from server edge to switched fabric core. In addition, the company is introducing the SANbox(r) 9000 Series, a new class of core switches designed exclusively for the rigorous price: performance demands of open systems environments. With a list price starting at $50,450, the SANbox 9000 can scale to 128 ports in a single 4u chassis, offers redundancy for high availability, and supports a family of I/O blades for intelligent networking. For data center managers concerned about available rack space, power and cooling, the compact 4u chassis takes less rack space, power and cooling than any director switch available today.
"IT managers want common infrastructure to simplify overall datacenter management and disruptive technologies to solve specific problems," said Brian Garrett, senior analyst, Enterprise Strategy Group. "The QLogic Network Platform will help IT managers unify their storage and server fabrics, while the SANbox 9000 makes core switch technology accessible to thousands of datacenters with complicated meshes of fixed port switches."
The QLogic Network Platform
The QLogic Network Platform consists of the company's award-winning line of SANbox switches, routers and storage services platforms as well as SANblade(r) and InfiniPath(r) host adapters for server connectivity to Fibre Channel, iSCSI and InfiniBand networks.
Winner of this year's Windows IT Pro "Readers' Choice" award, the entire QLogic SANbox line of products works together as an intelligent network solution, or can be deployed as individual, best-in-class components. QLogic covers the complete spectrum of fabric switch needs from the core with the SANbox 9000 Series core switches, to the distribution layer with SANbox 5000 Series stackable Fibre Channel switches, to the edge with SANbox 1000 Series fixed port switches. For low-cost local and remote server connectivity, QLogic SANbox 6000 Series intelligent storage routers boost storage utilization while driving down cost and complexity, and for storage virtualization, the QLogic SANbox 8000 Storage Services Platform offers network-based command and control of heterogeneous storage.
SANbox 9000 Series Switches - Designed to the core for open systems
Finally, there's a new class of core switch that represents a sane alternative to quarter million dollar director switches. The SANbox 9000 is designed to the core for cost-sensitive, business-critical, open system environments that require ultra high density, blazing performance and intelligent switching for their data center core. The SANbox 9000 Series represents a number of industry firsts: a 4U chassis for a smaller footprint and cost effective scalability, the simplicity and economies of customer replaceable units (CRUs) and a comprehensive set of core switch software management tools included as standard. Best of all, pricing starts at under $100,000.
The highly scalable SANbox 9000 is a core switch with a dedicated 800Gb/s HyperStack(tm) connection between as many as two chassis modules. The high-port-count SANbox 9000 supports up to 256 ports in a dual chassis configuration. The intelligent SANbox 9000 offers in one chassis module: 8 slots for any mix of 4Gb or 10Gb Fibre Channel I/O Blades, iSCSI intelligent storage router I/O blades, FCIP intelligent storage router I/O blades, or storage services platform (SSP) blades. For high availability, the SANbox 9000 features redundant, hot-swap I/O, CPU, power supply and fan blades. And for comprehensive fabric management, the SANbox 9000 includes the powerful and easy-to-use Enterprise Fabric Suite 2007 for setting-up, monitoring, tuning, troubleshooting and servicing an unlimited number of large fabrics.
About QLogic
QLogic is a leading supplier of high performance storage networking solutions including Fibre Channel host bus adapters (HBAs), blade server embedded Fibre Channel switches, Fibre Channel stackable switches, iSCSI HBAs, iSCSI routers and storage services platforms for enabling advanced storage management applications. The company is also a leading supplier of server networking products including InfiniBand host channel adapters that accelerate cluster performance. 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, NEC, Network Appliance and Sun Microsystems. QLogic is a member of the S&P 500 Index. For more information go to 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: 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; 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; the uncertainty associated with SOX 404 compliance; environmental compliance costs; terrorist activities and resulting military actions; international economic, regulatory, political and other risks; uncertain benefits from strategic business combinations; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; recognition of compensation expense related to employee stock options and the Company's employee stock purchase plan; the decreased effectiveness of equity compensation; difficulties in implementing smaller geometry process technologies; the ability to protect proprietary rights; the ability to satisfactorily resolve any infringement claims; reliance on third party licenses; 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 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 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, SANbox, SANblade and InfiniPath are registered trademarks of QLogic Corporation. SANblade is a registered trademark in the United States. Other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of the companies with which they are associated.