QLogic Corp. announced its 9024FC fixed configuration InfiniBand switch will support IBM's innovative new iDataPlex solution, an entirely new line of inexpensive, custom-configured rack systems. Featuring design innovations in power management and cooling, iDataPlex addresses the computing needs of companies that operate thousands of servers to facilitate higher levels of creativity, information sharing and collaboration among users -- the essence of Web 2.0. iDataPlex solutions, using QLogic technology and products, provide IBM customers with a unique combination of high performance, low power and simplified management to build next generation applications and services.

QLogic will offer a number of important enabling products to iDataPlex clients, including an enhanced 24 port InfiniBand switch designed to meet the platform's special space and power demands. QLogic has also leveraged its existing HBA technology to provide connectivity to Fibre Channel SANs. iDataPlex marks the latest collaboration between QLogic and IBM to provide high performance networking solutions that help IT organizations make their next generation data centers more efficient, environmentally friendly and easier to operate.

"The IBM iDataPlex system is a highly flexible and integrated approach to massive computing environments that maximizes customer value by minimizing acquisition costs and operating expense," said Jesse Parker, vice president and general manager, QLogic Corp. "iDataPlex solutions can decrease server power consumption by as much as 40 percent. Using iDataPlex with energy-efficient QLogic InfiniBand switch and HBA technology gives customers the ability to re-allocate budget for other priorities."

"QLogic InfiniBand switches work with the iDataPlex power management and cooling design to offer energy efficient solutions for Web 2.0-style computing," said Jim Gargan, vice president of Modular Systems, IBM Systems and Technology Group. "IBM is looking to technology leaders like QLogic to build an ecosystem of ready-to-use technologies for iDataPlex that will add value for our clients."

IBM iDataPlex is a new, cost-effective, high density rack system featuring design innovations in cooling and efficiency that will help it replace the inefficient 'white-box' servers commonly used in large scale-out environments. Each iDataPlex system will be custom-configured by IBM and arrive to the client integrated and ready to run from the factory. This unique delivery model also helps to keep the cost of iDataPlex well below that of 'white box' systems.

QLogic 24 Port InfiniBand Switch Enables High Speed, Low Latency Clusters for iDataPlex
The QLogic enhanced 24 port InfiniBand switch delivers the highest performance interconnect available for iDataPlex in a form factor that meets its unique space, power and cooling requirements. The most comprehensive and flexible interconnect fabric solutions on the market, QLogic InfiniBand switches incorporate the industry's only fabric management tools that enable an administrator to install and boot an InfiniBand fabric in minutes, helping to satisfy the growing demand for high performance computational clusters and grids. The QLogic 9024FCi boasts non-blocking, Full Bisectional Bandwidth (FBB) that can satisfy even the most demanding clustering applications.

QLogic Fibre Channel HBAs: The Top Enterprise HBAs
QLogic market share leadership is driven by IT professionals in Global 2000 corporate data centers that are deploying Fibre Channel HBAs. It's not surprising when you consider that QLogic HBAs deliver market-leading performance and reliability across the widest range of server and OS platforms. HBAs from QLogic offer a suite of technology advancements that help storage administrators in large enterprises ensure complete business continuity, maintain application performance and cost-effectively scale their networks.

Availability
iDataPlex will be available in the U.S. and Canada in June and globally by the end of the year.


QLogic Corp.

IBM Corp.