Brocade expands OEM relationship with Lenovo

Brocade has expanded the company’s OEM relationship with Lenovo, one of the world’s largest technology companies that significantly increased its enterprise IT infrastructure offerings following the acquisition of the IBM’s x86 server business in October 2014.

Brocade Gen 5 Fibre Channel storage area networking (SAN) switches are now being sold globally by Lenovo and its network of channel partners, in addition to embedded Fibre Channel and VCS Ethernet fabric switches that are available in solutions for all Lenovo x86-based servers. Brocade fixed-port SAN switches integrate flawlessly into Lenovo’s server and storage solutions, including the recently announced Lenovo Storage S2200 and S3200 SAN arrays. Additionally, the Brocade switches have completed qualification testing for seamless interoperability with these new storage offerings.

Brocade SAN switches deliver the industry’s highest levels of throughput that enable maximum application performance by eliminating network bottlenecks. Brocade SAN switches also include Brocade Fabric Vision technologies, which maximise uptime, dramatically simplify SAN deployment and management, while also providing unprecedented levels of visibility and insight into the storage network.

“We are excited to expand our OEM partnership with Lenovo,” said Jack Rondoni, vice president, storage networking, at Brocade. “New qualification and support for the S2200 and S3200 enables Lenovo customers of all sizes to uniquely experience the performance benefits of Gen 5 Fibre Channel, from ThinkServer and System x users to enterprise-class Flex System clients.”

The Lenovo Storage S2200 and S3200 arrays are designed for simplicity, speed and scalability, and deliver enterprise-class features at an affordable price point. These systems support a variety of workloads including online applications and virtualised environments. The S2200 and S3200 enable reliable, fast throughput for applications such as SQL, MS Exchange, and VMware virtualisation.

“Combining Lenovo servers and the Lenovo S2200 and S3200 with Brocade Gen 5 Fibre Channel creates complete solutions that offer affordable innovation and unmatched performance to address the ever-demanding needs of our global customers,” said Kamran Amini, Executive Director, EBG Product Marketing, at Lenovo. “Seamless interoperability with Brocade Gen 5 Fibre Channel SAN fabrics helps ensure trouble-free deployments that enhance the unique value delivered by our new storage arrays.”