QLogic Accelerates Performance of Database Clustering

SAN JOSE, CA -- QLogic Corp. (Nasdaq:QLGC), an end-to-end SAN infrastructure provider, will be showcasing interoperable, end-to-end InfiniBand(TM) technology solutions that address the performance needs of real-world applications at this week's Fall 2001 Intel Developer Forum (IDF). The company will show how IT departments will use QLogic's InfiniBand switch and input/output (I/O) module technology to boost performance in database clustering applications like IBM's DB2, as well as video-on-demand, and multi-tier enterprise environment applications, by connecting EMC Fibre Channel storage to high-performance InfiniBand fabrics. In addition, QLogic will demonstrate interoperability with InfiniBand solutions from more than 20 other industry leaders in the world's largest InfiniBand fabric, which includes 100 InfiniBand devices. InfiniBand benefits applications like DB2 by using an extremely efficient message transferring capability between servers in the distributed database server environment. Because InfiniBand enables quicker message passing, distributed applications like DB2 are able to run much faster. Demonstrated on the showcase floor at IDF, the 100-node InfiniBand fabric provides another step toward delivering interoperable, multi-vendor solutions that work together harmoniously. The InfiniBand architecture allows leading vendors like QLogic to deliver improved, reliable, and scalable data center performance to the marketplace. QLogic's InfiniBand-to-Fibre Channel I/O module technology and 15-port 2.5 Gbs InfiniBand switch will play a key role in bringing InfiniBand Architecture and Fibre Channel fabrics together. All InfiniBand-capable servers will be able to connect to existing Fibre Channel SANs (Storage Area Network) with QLogic's plug-and-play, InfiniBand I/O module technology. With dual 2 Gbs/sec Fibre Channel and 4x InfiniBand connections, QLogic's Fibre Channel to InfiniBand I/O module technology is the ideal bridge between InfiniBand server clusters and Fibre Channel SANs. "IT professionals don't have to worry how InfiniBand-based servers will fit in with their extensive Fibre Channel storage investments," said Rob Davis, vice president of advanced technology, QLogic Corp. "In our continued mission to simplify SAN solutions, we've created a suite of products that allow businesses to harness the power of InfiniBand fabrics that enhance the performance of their database and video applications without replacing Fibre Channel storage devices." In addition to powering EMC Fibre Channel storage in the largest InfiniBand Fabric, QLogic's InfiniBand I/O module technology can be seen boosting video performance in the IDF "Video on Demand" demonstration. QLogic's InfiniBand switch, with 13 copper ports and 2 SFP ports will be used to provide the interconnect infrastructure for the world's largest InfiniBand Fabric and will provide the interconnect infrastructure in several other InfiniBand IDF demonstrations. "QLogic has made great strides in developing the critical end-to-end connectivity solutions for InfiniBand fabric deployments," said Jim Pappas, director of initiative marketing for Intel's Enterprise Platform Group. "Intel will continue to work with QLogic to bring InfiniBand solutions to market that will greatly benefit applications like DB2 as evidenced in this week's demonstrations." The InfiniBand switched fabric architecture enables multiple devices to be connected without performance degradation and is positioned to replace shared buses such as PCI, as the next server-to-server interconnect or server-to-peripheral connection. QLogic's InfiniBand products promise to unify storage, networking and clustering, positioning them in the heart of the data center. With proven I/O interconnect technology in current and future I/O platforms such as Fibre Channel, InfiniBand architecture and iSCSI (storage over IP), QLogic is uniquely positioned to deliver on this promise. For further information visit www.qlogic.com