QLogic Corp. Selected by IBM to Provide Fibre Channel Host Interface Technology

Strategic Insights -

IBM has chosen QLogic Corp., a leading designer of Fibre Channel interconnect solutions, to provide the Fibre Channel host interface technology for the Netfinity server family. This partnership enables the Netfinity server family to connect with IBM's newly announced Netfinity Fibre Channel Storage system. Tom Schaffer, manager of server options at IBM's Personal Systems Group, stated that Netfinity customers require high-speed data transfer, high availability, and scalability, which QLogic's Fibre Channel adapters deliver. The adoption of Fibre Channel technology is increasing among medium to large businesses, and QLogic's solutions, including the QLA2100 Fibre Channel adapter, are well-positioned to meet this growing demand.

Key Takeaways:

  • QLogic Corp. has been selected by IBM to provide Fibre Channel host interface technology for the Netfinity server family.
  • The QLogic Fibre Channel adapters will enable connectivity between the Netfinity server family and IBM's Netfinity Fibre Channel Storage system.
  • Fibre Channel is becoming the preferred technology for medium to large businesses, providing high-speed data transfer, high availability, and scalability.
  • QLogic's QLA2100 Fibre Channel adapter is based on the ISP2100 Fibre Channel chip, which utilizes an on-chip RISC processor to off-load I/O management from the server.
  • The partnership with IBM further solidifies QLogic's position as a leader in delivering Fibre Channel solutions for enterprise-level servers.
  • QLogic's commitment to providing high-performance solutions with ease of implementation and strong customer support will continue to attract leading server and storage OEMs.

Statistics:

  • QLogic's QLA2100 Fibre Channel adapter provides an I/O throughput per second per processor interrupt that is unmatched in the industry.
  • The Fibre Channel interface delivers high-speed data transfer, high availability, and scalability required in today's mission-critical environments.

Sources:

  • QLogic Corp. (Nasdaq: QLGC) Business Wire, September 15, 1998
  • QLogic Corp. press release, September 15, 1998