NetApp To Support Brocade 8Gb Fibre Channel Offering
New Switches Address Server Virtualization Demands on Storage Networks
WELLINGTON, New Zealand - 6 August 2008 - NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP) announced today that it will resell and support the new
family of advanced 8Gbit/sec SAN switching solutions from Brocade. The new switching solutions, plus the currently
available 8Gb Brocade DCX Backbone and 48000 director blades, enable NetApp to provide customers with networking
technologies that help them expand and enhance their data centres. The 8Gb switches strengthen NetApp's portfolio of FC
SAN infrastructure solutions and better equip customers to meet the increased network demands placed on their IT
infrastructures as a result of server virtualization.
The new family of Brocade switches:
* Deliver unmatched 8Gbit/sec performance that doubles the throughput of all previous switches on the market
* Address the growing customer demand for higher performance and scalable infrastructure solutions
* Save up to 40% in power consumption compared to previous switches, providing NetApp customers increased data centre
power efficiencies and a smaller environmental footprint
* Provide enhanced server-to-storage traffic consolidation for easier data centre management
* Protect investments in NetApp infrastructure with backward compatibility to the installed base of Brocade 1, 2, and
4Gbit/sec SAN devices
"NetApp and Brocade are working together to provide our customers with solutions that will augment their virtualized
data centre environments," said Marty Lans, senior director of Data Centre Marketing at Brocade. "By adding the Brocade
new family of 8Gbit/sec switches to the NetApp(r) SAN switching portfolio, we are providing virtualization customers
with better end-to-end performance, manageability, and security from the server to storage."
"As server virtualization becomes a more crucial element in data centre infrastructures, it's imperative that all layers
of this infrastructure be optimised for maximum performance," said Joel Reich, vice president and general manager of the
SANiSAN Business Unit at NetApp. "By partnering with companies such as Brocade, we are able to provide our customers
with the necessary technologies to optimise their data centres and leverage the advanced capabilities of 8Gbit/sec FC."
Availability
The Brocade new family of advanced switching solutions, which includes the Brocade 300, Brocade 5100, and Brocade 5300,
is available immediately from NetApp and NetApp channel partners.
About NetApp
NetApp creates innovative storage and data management solutions that accelerate business breakthroughs and achieve
outstanding cost efficiency. Discover our passion for helping companies around the world go further, faster at
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This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. These statements include future plans for business partnering and to make available and sell certain
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ENDS