ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Nov. 23, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Continuing to expand its industry lead in converged networking, QLogic (Nasdaq:QLGC - News) today announced that its complete lineup of 8100 Series single chip converged network adapters (CNAs) are now certified with VMware vSphere(TM) 4, the industry's leading platform for data center virtualization, for both Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) and 10Gb Ethernet applications.

The combination of QLogic(R) second generation CNAs with VMware vSphere 4 enables customers to attain a higher degree of data center efficiency -- an Intelligent Converged Data Center -- where thousands of virtual machines (VMs) supporting enterprise business applications run across densely packed rows of servers over converged, unified networks. In a VMware vSphere-based virtual data center with FCoE, customers can run all of their resources on a single high speed 10GbE data pipe, essentially cutting costs in half for cables, adapters, switches and management consoles.

"The real-world business need to better utilize IT assets will fundamentally fuel FCoE adoption and QLogic and VMware are at the apex of this market opportunity," said David Vellante, chief research advocate, Wikibon.org. "Increasingly, we expect to see FCoE and VMware implemented specifically to increase asset utilization and reduce power consumption and heat dissipation. Single chip converged network adapters like QLogic's Network Plus Architecture are a leading example of technology that will complement virtualization without sacrificing performance."

"VMware virtualization platforms and QLogic FCoE adapters have complementary goals of reducing power and cooling costs while enabling significantly higher levels of server density," said Amit Vashi, vice president of marketing, Host Solutions Group, QLogic. "Through tight integration with VMware vCenter(TM) 4 Server, QLogic's converged network adapters enhance the user experience while running multiple business applications. QLogic has worked closely with VMware to enable high availability, security and scalability in virtualized environments while preserving compute resources across both storage and networking platforms."

QLogic 8100 series CNAs are seeing widespread deployments and now support all recent versions of the VMware platform, and are the only single chip CNAs generally available through leading Tier One OEM partners such as EMC, IBM and NetApp and over 1,000 channel partners and distributors worldwide.

"VMware vSphere(TM) is designed to help IT transform their infrastructure, making operations fundamentally simpler, more efficient and more flexible as customers continue their journey to the private cloud," said Shekar Ayyar, vice president, Infrastructure Alliances, VMware. "By using VMware vSphere with virtualization-ready products such as QLogic's 8100 Series converged network adapters, we believe customers will be able to realize the TCO benefits that FCoE has to offer while preserving existing investments in Fibre Channel technologies."

More details on QLogic's certification with VMware vSphere 4.0 are available at: http://bit.ly/61dgTZ

More information on the QLogic 8100 Series is available at: http://bit.ly/36V0DI

Follow QLogic @ twitter.com/qlogic

About QLogic

QLogic (Nasdaq:QLGC - News) is a global leader and technology innovator in high performance networking, including adapters, switches and ASICs. Leading OEMs and channel partners worldwide rely on QLogic products for their data, storage and server networking solutions. QLogic is a NASDAQ Global Select company and is included in the S&P 500. For more information, visit www.qlogic.com.

Disclaimer - Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains statements relating to future results of the company (including certain beliefs and projections regarding business 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: declines in information technology spending levels; potential fluctuations in operating results; gross margins that may vary over time; the stock price of the company may be volatile; the company's dependence on the networking markets served; potential adverse effects of server virtualization technology on the company's business; potential adverse effects of increased market acceptance of blade servers; the ability to maintain and gain market or industry acceptance of the company's products; the company's dependence on a small number of customers; seasonal fluctuations and uneven sales patterns in orders from customers; the company's ability to compete effectively with other companies; declining average unit sales prices of comparable products; a reduction in sales efforts by current distributors; 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; declines in the market value of the company's investment securities; the complexity of the company's products; sales fluctuations arising from customer transitions to new products; changes in the company's tax provisions or adverse outcomes resulting from examination of its income tax returns; environmental compliance costs; international economic, regulatory, political and other risks; uncertain benefits from strategic business combinations; the ability to attract and retain key personnel; difficulties in transitioning to smaller geometry process technologies; the ability to protect proprietary rights; the ability to satisfactorily resolve any infringement claims; reliance on third party technology; the use of "open source" software in the company's products; changes in regulations or standards regarding energy use of the company's products; computer viruses and other tampering with the company's computer systems; and facilities of the company and its suppliers and customers are located in areas subject to natural disasters.

More detailed information on these and additional factors which 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.

The use of the word "partner" or "partnership" does not imply a legal partnership relationship between VMware and any other company.