NetApp Teams With Brocade

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- NetApp (NASDAQ:NTAP) today announced an extension to its existing relationship with Brocade (NASDAQ:BRCD) that will strengthen the NetApp® storage and data management offering and further enable customers to enhance their data centers. As a result of this relationship, NetApp will OEM the Brocade DCX™ Backbone as part of its data center portfolio.

The Brocade DCX Backbone is the first in a new class of high-performance data center networking products designed to address the demanding requirements of evolving data centers. The Brocade DCX Backbone plays a key role in delivering a data center fabric (DCF) architecture that enables customers to enhance their data center infrastructures for maximum performance, flexibility, and investment protection. In addition, it supports important industry trends such as server virtualization and reducing power consumption. As a result, the Brocade DCX Backbone is an ideal complement to NetApp’s industry-leading unified storage platforms, including the FAS3000 series and FAS6000 series, providing customers with the ability to achieve increased service levels; higher asset utilization; and greater data center power, space, and cooling efficiencies.

“Brocade and NetApp are aligned in our commitment to helping data center managers succeed with the next generation of networked storage solutions by providing comprehensive and flexible deployment options,” said Ian Whiting, vice president and general manager of the Brocade Data Center Infrastructure division. “With the Brocade DCX, this strategy includes a future path to improved Fibre Channel or Ethernet interoperability and consolidation. The advanced and unified capabilities of NetApp storage solutions coupled with the Brocade DCX provide customers with industry-leading interoperability and investment protection.”

NetApp Inc. (Nasdaq: NTAP)

Brocade Communications Systems Inc.