Monday, November 22, 2004

QLogic, McDATA Partner On Embedded Switches

Aliso Viejo-based QLogic and Fibre Channel switch maker McDATA said this morning that the two rivals would co-develop and embedded Fibre Channel switch for blade servers. The multi-year alliance calls for a server-embedded switch blade which is McDATA compatible, to extend McDATA's switching line. The new line of switches will be based on QLogic switch hardware and firmware, with the addition of interoperability with McDATA switch fabrics. The companies also said that the switch is slated for OEM qualification in Q4 of 2004, and will be sold through select QLogic and MCDATA OEMs. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.