QLogic, Microsoft Partner

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. -- QLogic Corp. (NasdaqGS:QLGC - News), the leader in Fibre Channel host bus adapters (HBAs), stackable switches and blade server switches, today announced that it is working with Microsoft to integrate N-Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) technology with Microsoft's virtualization management solution, System Center Virtual Machine Manager. The result is that Virtual Machine Manager, part of the Microsoft System Center management suite, will have the capability to create and provision virtual SANblade HBA ports across multiple physical servers. Storage administrators who deploy Microsoft Virtual Machine Manager along with QLogic(r) SANblade(r) 2400 Series 4Gb Fibre Channel HBAs will be able to create virtual machines and ports that are easier to deploy, manage, and support across a virtualized data center.

Because it provides a unified interface for managing virtual machines and the related physical resources, Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) is the preferred management application for Windows-based server virtualization,” said Mike Neil, General Manager for Virtualization Strategy, Microsoft. “By eliminating the need for complicated tasks such as reconfiguring zones, server administrators will be able to easily and quickly perform migrations of virtual machines.”

Microsoft VMM and SANblade HBAs for an Easy-to-Manage and Secure Data Center

Microsoft is collaborating with QLogic and other Fibre Channel HBA vendors to define a standards-based approach to support NPIV within the Windows operating system (OS) architecture and management application interface. The Microsoft System Center VMM tool initiates systems calls to the HBA to create, delete, modify and query virtual ports. Storage administrators can create virtual HBA ports within multiple zones and assign them to virtual machines (VMs) for migrations, without having to reconfigure any zoning or LUN masking settings. The solution will be available to customers during the second half of 2007.

Without virtual HBA ports, storage administrators must use the physical HBA World Wide Port Name (WWPN) to define fabric zones, mask storage LUNs, and configure VMs. In addition, storage administrators typically define one zone where all disks are exposed to every server to support live migrations of VMs to new servers. This one-zone design creates security concerns for disks with sensitive information and requires the reconfiguration of the network if more than one zone is defined. Virtual HBA ports allow storage administrators to bind VMs to storage and define multiple zones using the virtual port parameters, creating an easier-to-manage and more secured virtualized environment.“Microsoft has extended its leadership position in the server virtualization management market by offering System Center VMM and supporting NPIV technology,” said Amit Vashi, senior director marketing, QLogic Host Solutions Group. “Instead of creating a separate management utility used solely for the management of virtual HBA ports, QLogic is enabling the technology by collaborating with independent software vendors (ISVs) such as Microsoft and developing standards-based protocols for virtual port management. Storage administrators prefer to use a single management tool such as Microsoft VMM to manage, deploy, and configure virtual machines, virtual ports, and other resources.”

QLogic Corp. (Nasdaq: QLGC)

Microsoft Corp.