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QLogic and Brocade First to Demonstrate Non-Volatile Memory Express Over Fabrics with Fibre Channel

LAS VEGAS, Dec. 07, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (Gartner Data Center, Infrastructure & Operations Management Conference) – Today, QLogic® and Brocade® demonstrated the industry’s first Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) over Fabrics solution using Fibre Channel as the fabric. The demonstration is based on the draft specification of NVMe over Fabrics under definition by the NVM Express, Inc. organization and the draft Fibre Channel over NVMe (FC-NVMe) standards under definition by T11. The solution is being demonstrated in the Brocade booth #546 at the Gartner Data Center, Infrastructure & Operations Management Conference in Las Vegas.

NVMe provides a standards-based approach for PCI Express (PCIe) solid state drive (SSD) access that significantly improves performance by reducing latency and streamlining the command set while providing support for security and end-to-end data protection. NVMe over Fabrics defines an efficient mechanism to utilize these devices in large scale storage deployments and provides investment protection by allowing the latest in innovations and advances in low latency SSD flash to be used over proven Fibre Channel fabrics. This enables the NVMe storage devices to be shared, pooled and managed more effectively. The QLogic and Brocade FC-NVMe proof of concept (POC) is aimed at providing a foundation for lower latency and increased performance, while providing improved fabric integration for flash-based storage.

“Next-generation data intensive workloads are utilizing low latency NVMe flash-based storage to meet ever increasing user demand,” said Vikram Karvat, vice president of products, marketing and planning, QLogic. “By combining the lossless, highly deterministic nature of Fibre Channel with NVMe, FC-NVMe targets the performance, application response time, and scalability needed for next generation data centers, while leveraging existing Fibre Channel infrastructures. QLogic is pioneering this effort with industry leaders, which in time, will yield significant operational benefits to data center operators and IT managers.”

“The advent of FC-NVMe is critical to the evolution of the data center and Brocade has been at the forefront, being both a key contributor and editor for the T11 FC-NVMe architecture,” said Jack Rondoni, vice president of storage networking, Brocade. “As the data center continues to evolve, so does Fibre Channel-based technology. Fibre Channel plays a vital role in connecting flash-based devices and FC-NVMe will further strengthen this correlation.”

“The NVM Express organization is pleased to see the first demonstration of NVMe over Fabrics using Fibre Channel,” said Amber Huffman, president, NVM Express, Inc. “We are excited to collaborate with the T11 standards organization to develop a robust standard that works well for Fibre Channel-based storage environments.”

“FC-NVMe extends the reach of existing Fibre Channel investments, enabling data centers to continue to leverage the tens of billions of dollars of installed Fibre Channel equipment,” said Seamus Crehan, president of Crehan Research. “The popularity of Fibre Channel connected flash-based storage continues to grow strongly, ensuring the longevity and persistence of Fibre Channel connectivity in the data center of the future.”

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QLogic – the Ultimate in Performance

QLogic (Nasdaq:QLGC) is a global leader and technology innovator in high performance server and storage networking connectivity products. Leading OEMs and channel partners worldwide rely on QLogic for their server and storage networking solutions. For more information, visit www.qlogic.com.

About Brocade

Brocade (NASDAQ:BRCD) networking solutions help the world's leading organizations transition smoothly to a world where applications and information reside anywhere. ( www.brocade.com)

About NVM Express, Inc.

NVM Express, Inc. was formed to define a new storage interface protocol, NVM Express, to enable the full performance potential provided by non-volatile memory storage technology, such as PCI Express solid state drives, in a standards-based approach to enable broad ecosystem adoption. NVM Express, Inc. is a non-profit organization and includes more than 80 member companies.

Disclaimer – Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements relating to future results of the company (including certain beliefs and projections regarding business and market trends) that are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied in the forward-looking statements. The company advises readers that these potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: potential fluctuations in operating results; gross margins that may vary over time; unfavorable economic conditions; the stock price of the company may be volatile; the company's dependence on the networking markets served; the company's ability to compete effectively with other companies; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; the company's dependence on a small number of customers; the ability to maintain and gain market or industry acceptance of the company's products; the company's dependence on sole source and limited source suppliers; the company's dependence on relationships with certain third-party subcontractors and contract manufacturers; uncertain benefits from strategic business combinations, acquisitions and divestitures; the complexity of the company's products; declining average unit sales prices of comparable products; sales fluctuations arising from customer transitions to new products; seasonal fluctuations and uneven sales and purchasing patterns with customers and suppliers; changes in the company's tax provisions or adverse outcomes resulting from examination of its income tax returns; international economic, currency, regulatory, political and other risks; facilities of the company and its suppliers and customers are located in areas subject to natural disasters; the ability to protect proprietary rights; the ability to satisfactorily resolve any infringement claims; a reduction in sales efforts by current distributors; declines in the market value of the company's marketable securities; changes in and compliance with regulations; difficulties in transitioning to smaller geometry process technologies; the use of "open source" software in the company's products; system security risks, data protection breaches and cyber-attacks; and the company’s ability to borrow under its credit agreement is subject to certain covenants.

More detailed information on these and additional factors that could affect the company's operating and financial results are described in the company's Forms 10-K, 10-Q and other reports filed, or to be filed, with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company urges all interested parties to read these reports to gain a better understanding of the business and other risks that the company faces. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made only as of the date hereof, and the company does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

QLogic and the QLogic logo are registered trademarks of QLogic Corporation. Other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of the companies with which they are associated.

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QLogic Corporation
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QLogic Corporation
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