02/02-05   -   Pressmeddelande

Brocade Multiprotocol Router Archieves Microsoft designed for Windows Logo

Qualification for iSCSI Connectivity Extends Reach of Powerful SAN Infrastructure Resources Across Organizations

SAN JOSE, Calif.—February 2, 2005—Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. (Brocade®) (Nasdaq: BRCD), the world’s leading provider of infrastructure solutions for Storage Area Networks (SANs), today announced that its SilkWorm® Multiprotocol Router has achieved Microsoft Designed for Windows Logo Program qualification for use in linking Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) networks to Fibre Channel SANs. The Brocade Multiprotocol Router enables organizations to leverage the powerful resource sharing and management resources of Brocade-based SANs across both iSCSI and Fibre Channel-based storage networks.

“Data center managers now can extend or consolidate SAN environments using blended network infrastructures, and have access to Brocade’s SAN management tools and technologies across the organization," said Rahul Auradkar, director, Windows Server Division at Microsoft Corp. “Achieving Designed For Windows Logo qualification helps ensure interoperability and quality assurance for Windows customers. The ability to establish secure, multiprotocol connectivity across storage networks brings a new level of flexibility to the enterprise data center."

The Brocade Multiprotocol Router supports logical connections between devices in different SANs without physically merging fabrics, providing secure, selective sharing of resources that increases flexibility and lowers the total overall cost of storage. SAN managers can use the 16-port Multiprotocol Router to connect devices using three different services: Fibre Channel to Fibre Channel (FC) Routing, FC to Internet Protocol (IP) Tunneling, and iSCSI Gateway service to bring Ethernet connected devices into a SAN.

The Multiprotocol Router enables data center managers to “wire once" and then create virtual connectivity between multiple existing SANs. The iSCSI Gateway service extends connectivity to devices not currently within a Fibre Channel SAN, providing secure access to SAN resources over Ethernet. In addition, the Multiprotocol Router helps to solve many other operational challenges such as tape backup consolidation, data migration, and secure, selective data movement between production and test environments.

“Using the Brocade Multiprotocol Router supporting iSCSI Gateway services, data center managers can implement a common model for SAN implementation and management," said Tom Buiocchi, vice president of worldwide marketing and support at Brocade. “This will allow deployment of tiered models for storage services resulting in the best possible cost of ownership within an actively managed and secure infrastructure."

About Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.

Brocade offers the industry’s leading intelligent platform for networking storage. The world’s leading systems, applications, and storage vendors have selected Brocade to provide a networking foundation for their SAN solutions. The Brocade SilkWorm family of fabric switches and software is designed to optimize data availability and storage and server resources in the enterprise. Using Brocade solutions, companies can simplify SAN implementation, reduce the total cost of ownership of data storage environments, and improve network and application efficiency. For more information, visit the Brocade Web site at www.brocade.com or contact the company at info@brocade.com.

Brocade, the Brocade B weave logo, Secure Fabric OS, and SilkWorm are registered trademarks of Brocade Communications Systems, Inc., in the United States and/or in other countries. FICON is a registered trademark of IBM Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All other brands, products, or service names are or may be trademarks or service marks of, and are used to identify, products or services of their respective owners.