Features - Storage Innovations:

QLogic SHIPPING FIRST STACKABLE FIBRE CHANNEL SWITCHES

QLogic Corp announced the QLogic SANbox 5200, the first Fibre Channel stackable switch, and the first switch to feature 10 gigabit technology, is now available to resellers via QLogic authorized distributors worldwide including: ACA Pacific, ACAL, Arrow, Bell Microproducts, Coma Zalohovaci Syatemy A.S. (Eastern Europe), Four Leaf, Hammer, Ideal Enterprise Solutions, Info-X, Laser Computer Limited, MOCA, Promark Technology, SAM Boo System Corp, SM DATA, Systex, Storgate Africa, Tech Data, TidalWire, Infodip S.A., TIM Storage Solutions and Triangel Computer.

"The stackable IP switch has proven to be the most popular type of Ethernet switch because of its scalability and ease of use," George Lyon, senior systems administrator for the State of Oregon. "Finally, it's possible to set up Fibre Channel storage networks with the same approach. The SANbox 5200 is a simple, affordable solution designed to grow with our business as our storage needs evolve."

With an MSRP of $5,795 for an 8-port configuration, the SANbox 5200 is a price leader that delivers breakthrough ease-of-use with wizard-based installation, the ability to scale to 64 ports without losing a single port to inter-switch links, blazing 10Gb performance, and complete stack management from a single application.

SANbox 5200 -– The First Stackable Fibre Channel Switch

IP networking vendors including Cisco, Nortel Networks and 3Com, bridged the gap between cost and port density with stackable IP switches, providing network administrators with a low cost of entry plus scalability to high port-count configurations -– without sacrificing performance and manageability along the way. Now QLogic introduces the SANbox 5000 Series, the industry's first stackable Fibre Channel switches. SANbox stackable switches deliver the scalability and performance of a modular switch in a pay-as-you-grow solution.

Summary Of SANbox 5200 Features And Benefits

• Incredibly Low Cost -- Starting at 8 ports, SANbox stackable switches offer an entry point affordable to the smallest business. And with an easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI), users won't have to hire an expensive SAN expert to manage stacks.

• Modular Scalability -- Grow by adding ports in 4, 8, 12, and 16-port increments up to 64 ports in a single stack. Add, change or delete switch features without disrupting your storage network with non-disruptive code load and activation (NDCLA). Users also save money when building large 64–port fabrics by using 50% fewer ports than a mesh of fixed port switches.

• Breakthrough Ease of Use -- The SANbox 5200 is the first Fibre Channel switch to be configured and zoned with simple wizards. Plus, SANsurfer Management Suite makes stack management easy throughout the SAN lifecycle by helping users install, configure, monitor, diagnose and upgrade –- all from one application.

• Blazing 10Gb Performance -- The SANbox 5200 is the first SAN product to support traffic between switches, servers and storage at up to 10Gb per second actually six times faster than 2Gb networks being deployed today. A single, 10Gb inter-switch link (ISL) ensures low latency between switches and eliminates the cost and complexity of trunking 2Gb ports.

• Pervasive Interoperability -- Interoperable with popular servers, storage and networking products from major manufacturers including: ADIC, Brocade, Cisco, Computer Associates, Dell, EMC, Emulex, HDS, HP, IBM, LSI Logic, McData, Microsoft, Quantum, StorageTek, Sun, VERITAS and many others.

Powered By QLogic

Since 1993, over 50 million QLogic products have shipped inside servers, workstations, RAID subsystems, tape libraries, disk and tape drives. These products were delivered to small, medium and large enterprises around the world. Powering solutions from leading companies like Cisco, Dell, EMC, Fujitsu, Hitachi, HP, IBM, Network Appliance, Quantum, StorageTek and Sun Microsystems, the broad line of QLogic controller chips, host bus adapters, network switches and management software move data from storage devices through the network fabric to servers. A member of the S&P 500 and NASDAQ 100, QLogic was recently named to Fortune's 100 Fastest Growing Companies list for the fourth consecutive year and to Forbes' Best 200 Small Companies for the fifth consecutive year. In addition, QLogic was named to Business Week's list of 100 Hot Growth Companies for 2003. For more information visit www.qlogic.com.