QLogic Hosts FCoE Test

SAN DIEGO -- QLogic Corp. (NASDAQ:QLGC), a leader in networking for storage and high performance computing (HPC), today announced it is hosting a Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) Test Drive event in San Diego from June 4 through June 6. At the event, Cisco, Computer Associates, Data Direct, Dot Hill, EMC, FalconStor, Finisar, HP, Infortrend, LSI, MiraLink, Microsoft, NetApp, Overland Data, Promise, QLogic and Symantec will test drive their hardware and software on an FCoE network. They are expected to validate the industrys promise that a simpler and more cost-effective converged network is now within reach because the operational model for FCoE is 100 percent compatible with the existing software and the operational model for native Fibre Channel. That means in the future that IT professionals will be able to easily migrate their infrastructure onto a single, converged, enhanced Ethernet network, while protecting and maintaining the stability of their investment in native Fibre Channel and Ethernet products and training.

“To help the vendors prepare for the event, I test drove several Microsoft applications on an FCoE network including Exchange and SQL Server running on Windows Server 2003,” said Dennis Martin, founder and president of computer industry analyst firm, Demartek. “All the applications tested viewed the FCoE networks as just another Fibre Channel SAN.”

“QLogic FCoE converged network adapters protect customers’ investments in Fibre Channel because they appear to the operating system just like a Fibre Channel HBA,” said Joe Kimpler, director of business alliances, QLogic Corp. “If and when data center managers decide to simplify their networks, the ability to run Ethernet data traffic and Fibre Channel storage traffic on a single adapter promises to greatly simplify the process of purchasing, deploying and managing the next generation of converged networks.”

QLogic Corp.