Brocade collaborates with Intel to deliver FCoE solutions 
ConvergenceAsia staff
16/04/2008

Data centre networking solutions provider Brocade will be working with Intel to deliver next-generation server adapters for evolving data centre networks.

Brocade will provide its storage networking software technology and expertise, along with Intel's 10 Gigabit Enhanced Ethernet server adapter hardware, to deliver high-performance Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) server connectivity. Today's announcement further advances the Brocade Data Centre Fabric (DCF) architecture for high performance, multiprotocol data centre networks.

"Our collaboration with Intel brings together Brocade's expertise in Fibre Channel with Intel's strength in Ethernet adapters to enable the consolidation of server I/O into a unified data centre fabric," said Madhu Matta, Vice President of the Brocade Server Connectivity Division.

The Brocade approach will provide customers with a new server connectivity option to seamlessly protect and extend their current investments in Storage Area Networks (SANs). The evolving FCoE standard is currently being worked on and supported by more than 15 Fibre Channel Industry Association (FCIA) members, including Brocade.

FCoE offers a new choice for consolidated server I/O connectivity in the data centre, which will result in a greater quantity of servers having access to the well-understood benefits of storage networks.

"The solution will give our customers a choice to enable greater consolidation of server connectivity while preserving the benefits of their current storage networking and data centre infrastructure," said Matta.

Customer benefits of this technology will include:
- Seamless extension and protection of existing storage investments
- Lower, long-term operating costs via consolidated connectivity and management
- A management model consistent with that used in today's SANs
- A unified data centre fabric that meets the reliability, latency, and performance
requirements for storage and broader data centre connectivity
- Additional server connectivity options for more cost-effective data centre networking
- A reduction in multiple server I/O and parallel network infrastructure commonly used in data centres

The FCoE standard is currently being worked on in the INCITS Fibre Channel (T11) Technical Committee and is expected to be completed in the second half of 2008.

The products and technology resulting from this collaboration will be available in early 2009.

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