NetApp has announced it will be using QLogic's converged network adapter (CNA) in its storage arrays and virtualisation appliances, to offer customers a native Fibre Channel over Ethernet capability.
Today, users deploy an Ethernet network interface card on the host or server side and a Fibre Channel host bus adapter on the storage array end. QLogic's 8152 card combines two adapters into one physical unit, but the adapters remain logically separate.
NetApp has been using QLogic's network interface cards in its network attached storage (NAS) arrays for some time. It will rebrand QLogic's 8152 card for use in all of its storage systems. IBM already uses the QKLogic 8152 card in its rack and tower series servers.