Brocade and EMC Accelerate the Journey to Cloud Computing With EMC VSPEX Proven Infrastructure

Brocade Selected as a Networking Provider in an Industry-Leading Ecosystem to Deliver Customer Choice & Flexibility via Channel Partners

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – April 15, 2012 – - Brocade (NASDAQ: BRCD) today announced its participation in a new EMC initiative to deliver Proven Infrastructure solutions for customers looking to make the transition to virtualization and cloud. The new EMC® VSPEX™ Proven Infrastructure, available only through the EMC's Velocity™ Program channel partners, can combine Brocade cloud-optimized networking technologies with EMC unified storage and next generation backup architecture, while enabling customers to leverage their server and hypervisor of choice.

Increasing numbers of small organizations are making the transition toward virtualization and cloud, but many are grappling with the challenge of managing IT infrastructures and ensuring application availability. Further, many do not have the in-house technical expertise or resources available to larger enterprises to smoothly make this transition. To address this need, EMC VSPEX offers customers a simple efficient and flexible means of deploying virtualization and cloud technologies, without added layers of IT complexity or risk. In addition, EMC VSPEX is built upon best-in-class technologies that provide customers with an unprecedented level of flexibility and investment protection.

In any virtualization or cloud deployment, the network plays a critical foundational role in the delivery and migration of data between virtual machines (VMs). Brocade cloud-optimized networking technologies are designed to seamlessly integrate and extend virtual compute in multi-vendor environments to help enable increased network performance, utilization and resiliency in virtualized architectures. Pre-validated by EMC for interoperability and featured in EMC's new VSPEX Labs, EMC VSPEX Proven Infrastructure solutions provide customers with the ability to choose from the following Brocade networking products:

Brocade ICX Switches: Available for deployment in VSPEX solution bundles for up to 100 VMs, Brocade ICX switches deliver enterprise-class stackable switching at an entry-level price. Two models are included in VSPEX configurations, the ICX 6450 and the ICX 6610, providing up to 48 ports of 1 Gpbs and 10 Gbps Ethernet connectivity.

Brocade VDX Switches: For integration with VSPEX virtualization and VDI solutions that scale up to 250 VMs and up to 2,000 virtual desktops, the award-winning Brocade VDX switch family enables businesses to build data center Ethernet fabrics, which provide an intelligent foundation for cloud-optimized architectures. The Brocade VDX 6720 is available in 1U and 2U models with up to 60 10 Gbps Ethernet ports. The Brocade VDX 6710 switch features 48 1 Gbps Ethernet ports and six 10 Gbps Ethernet ports in a 1 U design.

Brocade 6510 Fibre Channel Switches: Providing customers with a choice to utilize high-performance Fibre Channel connectivity for VSPEX-based virtualization and VDI applications (also up to 250 VMs and up to 2,000 virtual desktops), the Brocade 6510 delivers maximum reliability and flexibility. It is configurable up to 48 ports and supports 2, 4, 8, 10, or 16 Gbps speeds in an efficiently designed 1U package.

"Brocade's decade-plus partnership with EMC has generated a solid relationship built upon the successes of mutual partners and customers, as well as the common belief that certain technology solutions should be offered on an open-standards basis," said Gregg Ambulos, senior vice president, global channel sales, at EMC Corporation. "Through the years, we've worked together to integrate best of breed products from across Brocade's vast networking portfolio with outstanding results, so we're very excited about the inclusion of Brocade technologies within VSPEX Proven Infrastructure to deliver flexibility and choice to customers."

The open approach of EMC VSPEX brings together best-in-class technologies from leading vendors to create a set of highly flexible IT solutions. Taking into account the range of variability among IT environments, VSPEX's modular design enables customers to specify their choice of server, network and virtualization technologies within a pre-validated framework.

Brocade has long subscribed to this open ecosystem philosophy, and has therefore established partnerships with a number of vendors within the VSPEX ecosystem. This deeper level of collaboration affords the customer with an additional level of assurance of interoperability between components of the EMC VSPEX Proven Infrastructure.

"With its deep technology expertise and strong consultative nature, the channel is the logical point of integration for data center architecture design and private cloud deployments," said Sean Ong, Malaysia Country Manager for Brocade. "EMC's move toward offering modular, pre-validated virtualization solutions fully aligns with Brocade's strategy and philosophy to enable its partners to create open, multi-vendor solutions that help customers make a smooth transition toward the cloud."

The Channel as the First Mile to the Cloud

The continual maturation of cloud technologies, coupled with customers' growing interest in integrating virtualization and cloud solutions into their IT environments, presents an opportunity for channel partners. The channel's unique position within the IT marketplace and proximity to the customer makes them a natural fit as the "go-to" party for consulting and deployment of advanced technologies. To leverage the channel's valuable expertise and technical know-how, VSPEX solutions will be integrated and available via authorized Brocade Alliance Partner Network (APN) and EMC's network of Velocity partners.

As part of its ongoing commitment to drive integrated solutions via the channel, Brocade has announced the availability of programs designed to assist and reward resellers in the selling of VSPEX solutions, specifically:

Significant discounts on demonstration units to assist partners in populating proof-of-concept labs and increase trial deployments

Extra percentage points for deal registration to protect partner opportunities
Specialized Brocade Rewards bonuses to further incentivize VAR sales representatives

These programs, in conjunction with EMC's efforts to drive end-to-end enablement through the channel, provide partners with an opportunity to both capitalize on these current industry trends, while establishing themselves as the trusted advisor to the end customer.