ACAL and QLogic Raise the Storage Networking Bar

New Storage Networking Technologies Give the Channel Greater Intelligent Networking Abilities

ACAL Storage Networking, a leading independent Storage Networking distributor, has launched a series of initiatives to help its base of channel customers learn about an array of new QLogic storage networking products.

QLogic recently announced several new SANbox switches routers, storage services platforms and adapters, intelligent storage networking building blocks designed to enhance the performance, availability and management of storage networks.  As the premier European distributor for QLogic, ACAL is key to ensuring channel partners are familiar with the technology and how intelligent storage networks are used to solve critical business problems.
 
To facilitate the education process, ACAL will be launching an awareness campaign illustrating how QLogic end-to-end solutions are integrated.  To aid this, ACAL will help customers with any specific training requirements, ensuring customers have the support they need.  Finally ACAL have appointed Jonathon Knight as a product manager entirely focused on supporting the channel with any QLogic requirements.
 
Jonathon Knight remarked, I am delighted have this opportunity to help the channel service their customers and maximise their revenue opportunities by fully utilising the solutions available from Qlogic via ACAL. 

The new QLogic products include: 

• SANbox 6000 Intelligent Storage Routers - provide a cost-effective way for iSCSI-based servers to access storage services already deployed on a Fibre Channel SAN.  Used in pairs, they also provide Gigabit Ethernet connectivity between FC SAN islands 
• SANbox 8000 Storage Services Platforms enable the deployment of advanced data management and protection capabilities within the SAN fabric, eliminating the need for complex host-based approaches. 
• SANbox 9000 Fibre Channel Core Switches - are a new class of stackable chassis core switches with 99.999% availability, blazing performance and multi-function/multi-protocol intelligence of a Director but without the large footprint and high total cost of ownership (TCO).
• SilverStorm InfiniBand Switches  - including Core Switches and Edge Switches for High Performance Computing Clusters (HPCC) 
• InfiniPath InfiniBand Host Channel Adapters (HCAs) including HCAs for servers with PCI-Express or HyperTransport (HTX) adapters slots.

Paul Reeve, Director, ACAL Storage Networking, pointed out These new solutions fit well with ACALs philosophy of providing customers with the best products, backed up and supported by outstanding levels of technical excellence. 
 
Bob Aitchison, Director EMEA Channels, QLogic, As a valued partner, we wholly support ACALs new product education initiatives, that will help the channel make the best use of our products.
 
 
 
About ACAL Storage Networking
 
ACAL Storage Networking is Europes leading independent storage networking distributor. Founded in 1997, ACAL supplies the IT channel throughout Europe, Middle East and Africa, with high quality, reliable storage networking solutions. ACAL Storage Networking has an independent, storage agnostic position, regardless of the servers and storage being supplied. Complementing this is a philosophy based upon outstanding technical excellence and first class customer service.

ACAL Storage Networking is a division of ACAL IT Limited. Acal IT Limited is one of the worlds leading specialist distributors of IT products. As an organisation, it prides itself on supplying OEMs, resellers and integrators throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa with best of breed products accompanied by outstanding levels of customer service.

Acal IT, with its head office in the U.K, comprises of 3 autonomous divisions: Headway Technology, Acal Storage Networking and Acal Networks with branch offices across Europe. Headway Technology provides document management and imaging products together with associated software and services. Acal Storage Networking specialises in connectivity solutions for the rapidly growing storage networking market and Acal Networks focuses on the wireless networking arena.

Acal IT is part of the Acal plc Group quoted on the London Stock Exchange with a pan-European infrastructure to support our growing customer needs. ACALs strengths and reputation come from a unique distribution formula. By being very close to the product manufacturers and making strong investments in technical capability, staff training and product stocking, the company operates more as a manufacturers representative bringing its suppliers and customers together for business success.

About QLogic

QLogic is a leading supplier of high-performance storage networking solutions, producing the controller chips, host bus adapters (HBAs) and fabric switches that are the backbone of storage networks for most Global 2000 corporations.  The company delivers a broad and diverse portfolio of products that includes Fibre Channel HBAs, blade server embedded Fibre Channel switches, Fibre Channel stackable switches, iSCSI HBAs, iSCSI routers and storage services platforms for enabling advanced storage management applications.  The company is also a leading supplier of InfiniBand switches and InfiniBand host channel adapters for the emerging High Performance Computing Cluster (HPCC) market.  QLogic products are delivered to small-to-medium businesses and large enterprises around the world via its channel partner community.  QLogic products are also powering solutions from leading companies like Cisco, Dell, EMC, Hitachi Data Systems, HP, IBM, NEC, Network Appliance and Sun Microsystems. QLogic is a member of the S&P 500 Index.