QLogic

QLogic Corporation

Company type	Public
Industry	Networking, server, and storage connectivity solutions
Founded	1992
Founder	Spin-off from Emulex
Defunct	2016
Headquarters	Aliso Viejo, California , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Fibre Channel host bus adapters, converged network adapters (FCoE), Ethernet network interface controllers, iSCSI adapters, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs)
Parent	Cavium (from 2016), later Marvell Technology Group (from 2018)

QLogic Corporation was a U.S.-based producer of networking, server, and storage connectivity solutions, with its headquarters located in Aliso Viejo, California until 2016. The company's offerings featured Fibre Channel host bus adapters, converged network adapters supporting Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), Ethernet network interface controllers, iSCSI adapters, and various application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). QLogic operated publicly from 1992 through 2016.

History

Established in 1992 as a spin-off from Emulex, QLogic initially concentrated on disk controller technology. It became publicly traded in 1994 on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker QLGC. The firm was a competitor to Emulex within the market for Fibre Channel controllers utilized in storage area network environments.

QLogic expanded its business through strategic acquisitions, including the purchases of NetXen and Silicon Design Resources Inc. in 1998 for roughly $2 million. In May 2000, it acquired Ancor Communications, a maker of Fibre Channel switches, in a stock transaction valued at approximately $1.7 billion. The company further diversified into iSCSI solutions by acquiring Little Mountain Group in 2001 for near $30 million. Subsequent acquisitions included the compiler firm PathScale for $109 million and InfiniBand technology developer Silverstorm Technologies for $60 million, both completed in 2006. The PathScale compiler division was later sold to SiCortex in 2007 following limited commercial success.

Leadership saw H.K. Desai serve as chairman from 1996 until his passing in 2014. In 2012, QLogic divested its InfiniBand business to Intel for $125 million. Simon Biddiscombe held the CEO role from November 2010 until May 2013 during a period marked by revenue declines. He was followed by Prasad Rampalli until August 2015, when Jean Hu assumed the position of acting CEO.

In June 2016, QLogic consented to acquisition by Cavium in a deal valued at roughly $1 billion above its cash reserves. After the transaction closed in August, the company announced plans for workforce reductions and relocation to Irvine, California. Cavium itself was later acquired by Marvell Technology Group in 2018.

Products

The firm manufactures networking solutions tailored for storage and converged networking environments. Their portfolio encompasses Fibre Channel caching adapters, Fibre Channel adapters, iSCSI adapters, Fibre Channel switches, Converged Network Adapters, as well as Intelligent Ethernet Adapters.

Acquisitions

Significant acquisitions comprise Troika Networks and storage virtualization technologies in 2005, the procurement of NetXen along with Intelligent Ethernet Adapter products in 2009, and the 2014 acquisition of Brocade Communications Systems' fibre channel and converged network adapter division, established through an extensive technology partnership.