QLogic Corp. has hosted a Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) Test Drive event in San Diego from June 4 through June 6. At the event, Cisco, Computer Associates, Data Direct, Dot Hill, EMC, FalconStor, Finisar, HP, Infortrend, LSI, MiraLink, Microsoft, NetApp, Overland Data, Promise, QLogic and Symantec will test drive their hardware and software on an FCoE network. They are expected to validate the industry’s promise that a simpler and more cost-effective converged network is now within reach because the operational model for FCoE is 100 percent compatible with the existing software and the operational model for native Fibre Channel. That means in the future that IT professionals will be able to easily migrate their infrastructure onto a single, converged, enhanced Ethernet network, while protecting and maintaining the stability of their investment in native Fibre Channel and Ethernet products and training.
 
“To help the vendors prepare for the event, I test drove several Microsoft applications on an FCoE network including Exchange and SQL Server running on Windows Server 2003,” said Dennis Martin, founder and president of computer industry analyst firm, Demartek. “All the applications tested viewed the FCoE networks as just another Fibre Channel SAN.”
 
“QLogic FCoE converged network adapters protect customers’ investments in Fibre Channel because they appear to the operating system just like a Fibre Channel HBA,” said Joe Kimpler, director of business alliances, QLogic Corp. “If and when data center managers decide to simplify their networks, the ability to run Ethernet data traffic and Fibre Channel storage traffic on a single adapter promises to greatly simplify the process of purchasing, deploying and managing the next generation of converged networks.”
 
Fibre Channel over Ethernet – Unifying Data and Storage Networks
FCoE, the standard for transporting Fibre Channel frames over Ethernet, is designed to make converged networks possible for data centers. With converged networks now on the way to becoming a reality, servers will no longer require separate interfaces for data and storage networking. IT professionals can increase functionality while reducing cost and complexity by using a single set of cables and switches.
 
QLogic 8000 Series CNAs -- Make Your Converged Network Fly
The QLogic 8000 Series is a family of converged network adapters designed for next-generation, virtualized and unified data centers with powerful multi-processor, multi-core servers. QLogic 8000 Series CNAs are optimized for both data and storage (FCoE) networking virtualization with fierce 10GbE performance to handle large numbers of virtual machines. QLogic 8000 Series CNAs also reduce data center total cost of ownership (TCO) by enabling consolidation of data and storage networking onto a single adapter to reduce cabling, power and cooling. By using the same industry standard SAN services, QLogic driver architecture and QLogic management tools already deployed with the largest installed base of Fibre Channel HBAs in the world, the QLogic 8000 Series CNAs completely protect customer investments in their existing Fibre Channel SANs.