FCoE Switch helps simplify virtual infrastructures.October 23, 2008 -
Based on the Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switches for data centers, EMC® Connectrix® NEX-5020 uses Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) standard to transfer data between physical and virtual servers and storage systems. Device provides line-rate, low-latency, lossless 10 Gb/s Ethernet switching for network connectivity. It is designed to meet I/O demands of multi-core processors, VMware Infrastructure, and other virtualized server and SAN environments.
(Archive News Story - Products mentioned in this Archive News Story may or may not be available from the manufacturer.)
Original Press release
EMC Corp.
35 Parkwood Dr.
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EMC Introduces its First Switch for Fibre Channel Over Ethernet (FCoE)
New EMC Connectrix NEX-5020 Switch and New Server Adapters Help Simplify Virtual Infrastructures and Reduce Costs
DALLAS, Oct. 13 /-- Storage Networking World -- EMC Corporation, the world leader in information infrastructure solutions, today introduced the EMC(R) Connectrix(R) NEX-5020, its first Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) switch and the first to be offered by a storage provider. The newest addition to EMC's family of switches and directors uses the emerging FCoE standard to transfer data between physical and virtual servers and storage systems using the highly reliable Fibre Channel protocol over high speed, lossless 10 Gb/s Ethernet networks.
A network that consolidates data and storage area networking (SAN) on the same wire helps to simplify server, network and storage infrastructures and can lower costs and protect existing technology investments without sacrificing performance, security or reliability. Based on the Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switches for data centers, the Connectrix NEX-5020 provides line-rate, low-latency, lossless 10 Gb/s Ethernet switching for network connectivity. It is designed to meet the ever-increasing I/O (input/output) demands of multi-core processors, VMware Infrastructure and other virtualized server and SAN environments. FCoE can help simplify server and network infrastructure by reducing the number of cables and adapters required for network connectivity, which in turn reduces power consumption and overall data center costs. It also enables additional servers to be attached to the SAN infrastructure and take advantage of the capabilities of EMC's industry leading networked storage systems.
"FCoE technology is an evolutionary approach to consolidated storage networking and EMC is helping to lead this evolution with our key partners," said Barbara Robidoux, EMC vice president, Storage Product Marketing. "The Connectrix NEX-5020 is designed to help address immediate challenges our customers are facing around infrastructure sprawl, asset utilization, and the related power and cooling issues in the data center. Just as important, it provides investment protection for current data center assets and traditional SAN tools and training."
Soni Jiandani, vice president of marketing in the Server Access and Virtualization business unit for Cisco said, "The innovative architecture of the Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switches helps to reduce costs and simplify data center management by supporting a lossless 10 Gigabit Ethernet unified fabric. By working closely with EMC, we're able to help customers interested in data center consolidation and improved business agility to take advantage of these benefits in a nondisruptive manner, scaling the transition at the pace their business requires."
Converged Network Adapters from Emulex and QLogic
FCoE infrastructure deployments with the Connectrix NEX-5020 will utilize Converged Network Adapters (CNAs). CNAs are I/O adapters that combine the functionality of an Ethernet NIC (network interface card) and a Fibre Channel host bus adapter (HBA) to provide server connectivity to the NEX-5020. Emulex and QLogic CNAs have been EMC E-Lab(TM) tested and qualified and are part of the EMC Select portfolio of complementary third-party products.
"Emulex continues to drive the adoption of Fibre Channel technology and is dedicated to working with EMC to enable our joint customers to seamlessly deploy converged FCoE solutions, while extending their existing Fibre Channel infrastructure investments and expertise," said, Taufik Ma, vice president of product marketing, Emulex Corporation. "By leveraging field-proven Fibre Channel technology, Emulex CNAs allow companies to protect and extend their Fibre Channel investments, while delivering reduced data center complexity, management costs and power consumption."
Amit Vashi, vice president, QLogic Host Solutions Group, said, "The introduction of EMC's first FCoE switch is another major milestone for the rapidly emerging converged networks market. By combining the industry's first commercially available FCoE adapters from QLogic with the EMC Connectrix NEX-5020, customers can consolidate their storage and data networks on one platform while preserving their existing Fibre Channel investments."
EMC Connectrix Family of Switches and Directors
The EMC Connectrix family offers the industry's most extensive selection of networked storage connectivity products, ranging from highly available enterprise-class directors to edge switches and management tools. All Connectrix systems concurrently support multiple hosts and operating systems, enabling multiple servers to connect to multiple storage systems from EMC as well as other vendors. This flexible family of platforms helps facilitate the consolidation of information onto fewer storage systems for improved management, protection and availability.
Availability
The Connectrix NEX-5020 switch and Converged Network Adapters from Emulex and QLogic are generally available from EMC.
About EMC
EMC Corporation (NYSE:EMC) is the world's leading developer and provider of information infrastructure technology and solutions that enable organizations of all sizes to transform the way they compete and create value from their information. Information about EMC's products and services can be found at www.EMC.com.
EMC and Connectrix are registered trademarks and E-Lab is a trademark of EMC Corporation. VMware is a registered trademark of VMware, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Web site: http://www.emc.com/
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