ALISO VIEJO, Calif., May 26, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Continuing to execute along a fast-paced trajectory to expand its industry lead in intelligent converged networking technologies, QLogic Corp. (Nasdaq:QLGC), a leading supplier of high performance network infrastructure solutions, today announced IBM (NYSE:IBM) is the first tier-one system vendor to integrate QLogic's new single chip 8100 Series converged network adapters (CNAs) for native Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) connectivity in IBM's mainstream server portfolio.
Specifically, IBM will offer native FCoE connectivity on all IBM rack and tower series servers, including the new Intel Xeon 5500 "Nehalem"-powered BladeCenter and System x offerings, providing the latest in enterprise data center connectivity options to its customers while significantly lowering power consumption and heat dissipation across the enterprise. Optimized for blade servers and high-density storage systems, the QLogic 8100 Series CNAs support simultaneous storage and data networking traffic at full 10GbE line speeds, consume only one third the power of existing CNA chip sets and are the only CNAs on the market to completely eliminate the need for a heat sink. With today's announcement, IBM is enabling customers to leverage the ubiquity and economics of Ethernet while preserving the investment and strengths of Fibre Channel.
"In a period of less than 60 days, QLogic announced the availability of a next generation, single chip CNA and announced a tier one server design win, further capitalizing on its first mover advantage in delivering production-ready FCoE technology," said Bob Laliberte, analyst, Enterprise Strategy Group. "As the FCoE market develops, securing key vendor design wins and go-to-market channels will be critical to establishing market leadership and accelerating adoption of FCoE technology. As evidenced by this announcement, QLogic is setting the pace."
According to Dell'Oro Group, FCoE adapter revenue is expected to increase, on average, by over 200 percent annually from 2008 to 2013 reaching nearly $400M. "FCoE port shipments are expected to increase by an average of 300 percent annually, reaching nearly 2 million ports shipped during the same timeframe," said Seamus Crehan, vice president, Dell'Oro Group.
"The new IBM BladeCenter HS22 servers represent the confluence of multiple emerging technologies driving advances in the data center," said Alex Yost, vice president, IBM Systems & Technology Group. "The QLogic 8100 Series CNAs complement the new generation technology by offloading all FCoE protocol processing to the adapter, freeing up CPU cycles for even faster application performance and increased server Virtual Machine (VM) support. With this generation of no compromise IBM BladeCenter servers, customers can benefit from highly virtualized systems with record levels of performance and scalability and more flexible provisioning of enterprise resources through a single 10GbE network."
As part of today's news, QLogic also announced the new QLogic 10Gb Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE) high-speed Pass-thru Module, which provides 14 non-blocking connections between CNAs installed on IBM BladeCenter servers and external 10GbE or 10G CEE switches and devices. The QLogic 8100 Series CNAs provide the foundation for network convergence and work in concert with the new QLogic 10Gb CEE Pass-thru Module to provide a complete, integrated connectivity solution for IBM BladeCenter systems.
The QLogic 10Gb CEE Pass-thru Module is the most cost-effective way to introduce CEE outside an IBM BladeCenter server. The module translates internal 10 Gigabit Media Independent Interface (XAUI) connections on up to 14 CNA-enabled servers to external SFP+ optical media ports, suitable for direct attachment to new CEE and FCoE devices as well as to existing 10GbE LANs. Line rate connectivity is provided without the expense or management requirements of other approaches, enabling customers to begin their network convergence at the server level with minimal infrastructure investment elsewhere.
"With today's announcement coming so closely on the heels of the introduction of its breakthrough Network Plus Architecture, QLogic has just delivered a one-two punch to its competitors," said Tom Trainer, president and founder of storage research consultancy Analytico, Inc. "Owning your own silicon has its distinct advantages, such as getting a product to market first and gaining market traction much more rapidly than others trying to integrate components from multiple suppliers."
"When it comes to delivering converged networks and advances in computing, IBM is elevating the stature of its servers to an entirely new stratum in the data center," said Scott Genereux, senior vice president, Worldwide Sales and Marketing, QLogic. "The company's ability to integrate single chip FCoE technology so rapidly across its server portfolio is an example of its seamless product adaptability and business model flexibility. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with IBM on converged networking solutions for its blade servers and high-density storage systems."
"Support of native FCoE connectivity by a leading server supplier is another key step in the adoption of converged networks," said David Vellante, co-founder and principal contributor to Wikibon.org, a professional community of IT practitioners. "The business case for FCoE is compelling as it utilizes the network more efficiently and provides any-to-any connectivity by leveraging existing SAN infrastructure and lowering network management costs."
Both the QLogic 8100 Series CNAs and Pass-Thru Modules can be used with other products in the IBM FCoE and CEE product portfolio, including other pass-thru modules and CNAs, respectively, to provide customers with complete flexibility and interoperability -- and products based entirely on open standards.
About QLogic
QLogic (Nasdaq:QLGC) is a global leader and technology 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. QLogic is a NASDAQ Global Select company and is included in the S&P 500. For more information, visit www.qlogic.com.
For additional information on Dell'Oro Group FCoE market data, visit: www.dellorogroup.com.
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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; revenues may be affected by changes in IT spending levels; gross margins that may vary over time; 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; the company's dependence on sole source and limited source suppliers; the company's dependence on relationships with certain silicon chip suppliers; declines in the market value of the company's marketable securities; 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 the company's products; changes in the company's tax provisions or adverse outcomes resulting from examination of its 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.
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