McDATA/QLogic Deliver Blade Server Switch for IBM
Simple and Seamless Connectivity for Enterprise Data Centers
BROOMFIELD, Colo. —March 23, 2005—McDATA Corporation (Nasdaq: MCDTA/MCDT), a leading provider of storage networking solutions, today announced its blade server switch module, co-developed with QLogic, which will provide IBM eServer BladeCenter customers with the secure, reliable and stable large fabric connectivity that enterprise customers have been demanding.
In May 2005, customers will be able to integrate blade servers into their core McDATA data centers. The McDATA/QLogic embedded switch module for the IBM eServer BladeCenter is the right solution for customers who are looking to deploy a McDATA, core-to-edge, fully interoperable blade-based Fibre Channel networked switching solution allowing them to gain the economic efficiencies that blade servers deliver to the Global Enterprise Data Center.
“IBM is pleased to support this collaborative solution from McDATA and QLogic, as it allows IBM to respond to customer demand for a McDATA storage fabric option,” said Jeff Benck, vice president IBM eServer BladeCenter. "The delivery of the embedded switch module is a testament to the strong partnerships here and IBM’s continued work to deliver the most highly integrated blade offering on the market. It’s important that IBM BladeCenter customers are continuously provided with more choice.”
The switch modules will come standard with advanced features for the enterprise including interoperability core-to-edge, open exchange of management data, zoning, partitioning, and security.
“The market is seeing explosive growth in blade server environments due to increased economies in cost of acquisition, improved management, and space efficiency,” said Randy Kerns, senior partner, Evaluator Group. “While the processing power from adding blade servers increases dramatically, the customer must solve the connectivity issue. A flexible way to address connectivity is the McDATA-enabled QLogic switch. This will allow a seamless integration into a McDATA-based enterprise data center.”
“McDATA is seeing many of our top customers moving toward blade server environments to leverage the cost savings that blade servers bring,” said Jonathan Buckley, vice president of software, internetworking and blade switch business lines McDATA. “This is effectively changing how McDATA does business at the “new-edge” of the Global Enterprise Data Center.”
"The results of our partnership with McDATA on this switch module have been extremely successful,” said Frank Berry, vice president of marketing, QLogic Corp. “With three times the number of ports as competitive embedded switch solutions that are limited to two ports, this six port switch provides leading blade servers, such as the IBM eServer BladeCenter, with the unique ability to network storage systems without adding an external switch.”
mcdata.com |
