QLogic has partnered up with Extreme Networks to integrate their portfolios on the premise of allowing Ethernet environments to connect to both fibre channel and fibre channel over Ethernet networks.  The initiative brings Extreme Networks’ Open Fabric Architecture 10GbE and 40GbE switches with QLogic’s FC and FCoE storage.

The BlackDiamond and Summit series switches will now work with the QLogic 10GbE converged network adapters, as well as the QLogic 5800 series and Universal Access PointUA5900 series fibre channel switches.

“Customer requirements to reduce costs are driving data center network convergence,” said David Ginsburg, CMO for Extreme Networks. “Working with QLogic, a pioneer in the storage space, we look to put an end to the frustration customers often have with respect to FCoE by heightening levels of interoperability and performance.”

QLogic is very dependent on OEM relations when it comes to its revenue, and Fiber channel and Ethernet are two of the company’s biggest focuses. This latest partnership with Extreme Networks is a strategic move in the right direction, now that the networking solutions maker is in the process of recovering from a disappointing quarter.

The firm reported its fiscal results for the third quarter last week, a period in which it showed higher profit but lower margins and revenue.  Selling its InfiniBand unit to Intel put an extra $125 million in the bank but the outlook will need to live up to the optimism some analysts are projecting.

Juniper is another networking gear maker that recently held its earnings call, and Cisco will be announcing it’s figures tomorrow. In addition the latter is also expanding, most recently via the acquisition of Truviso for an undisclosed amount. The firm specializes in analyzing data  from networking environments in order to achieve improvements in efficiency.