News

posted on 19 June 2008 09:08

Attending an an HP bash at Las Legas, following the Symantec bash, following the EMC bash .... what is about Las Vegas? .... QLogic has announced its showing 8Gbit/s Fibre Channel kit for HP there and also the 'EVA iSCSI Connectivity Option'.

This is 'a new data migration solution that uses the EVA iSCSI Connectivity Option with integrated multi-protocol support that extends Fibre Channel SAN investments. This allows customers to incorporate iSCSI servers without requiring additional storage arrays or management costs.'

Frank Berry, QLogic's marketing VP, said: “We have been working closely with HP to understand the requirements and concerns of customers, and used their input in the development of these products.”

Green HBAs
The HP StorageWorks 82Q dual port 8Gb Fibre Channel HBA  (Host Bus Adapter) is based on QLogic's 2500 series of 8Gbit/s PCIe FC (Fibre Channel) HBAs. QLogic says they set themselves down to the mimimum power level needed to run at full PCIe speed and no more. They are also cool enough not to need a fan.

The HP StorageWorks 8/20q Fibre Channel switches are based on QLogic's SANbox technology and, like the HBAs, run at 8Gbit/s.

Combining iSCSI and FC
Here's the deja vu part of this story. QLogic states: 'The EVA iSCSI Connectivity Option provides core capabilities that leverage the benefits and investments that businesses have made in SANs. First, it allows all servers in the enterprise to connect to the SAN via low cost and standard Ethernet. Second, all Fibre Channel storage devices become multi-protocol devices, via iSCSI. With performance to support up to 150 servers and wizard-based configuration, the HP EVA iSCSI Connectivity Option sets the standard for storage router price/performance and ease-of-use.'

This is the same as the earlier QLogic-based converged iSCSI and FC product for Sun. It's the combined Ethernet NIC (Network Interface Card) and FC HBA. One server can connect to both FC and iSCSI SANs (storage area networks).

^{[Paul Roberts, news editor.]}