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Networking:
New Intel Products Accelerate
Transition To Faster Ethernet
Intel Corporation introduced several advanced Ethernet products that help
speed data between desktop PCs and servers over enterprise networks. The
products promise to accelerate the adoption of Gigabit Ethernet (GbE)
connections onto the desktop and the transition to 10-Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE)
in enterprise data centers.
The new products include a GbE controller, which includes the first
implementation of Intel's new Communications Streaming Architecture (CSA), and
the industry's first 10GbE server adapter for enterprise networks. Intel also
introduced a small-form-factor 10-Gbps XFP optical transceiver that operates
at multiple data rates, the industry's first four-port GbE network adapter for
servers, and a PCI-based GbE controller for clients.
"Just as ever-growing traffic is driving the need for more lanes on
freeways,
increasing data traffic is driving the demand for greater bandwidth on
enterprise networks," said Tim Dunn, vice president, Intel Communications
Group, and general manager, Intel's Platform Networking Group. "Intel's
objective is to help ensure that networks keep pace with increasing
performance of PCs and servers, and the growing multitude of bandwidth-hungry
applications."
New CSA Technology Doubles GbE Throughput
The new Intel PRO/1000 CT Desktop Connection works in tandem with Intel's
soon-to-be-released Springdale and Canterwood chipsets to double the
performance attainable on desktop-PC GbE-network connections. A generation
ahead of other GbE controllers, the PRO/1000 CT connection utilizes Intel's
new Communications Streaming Architecture (CSA). CSA is a dedicated bus that
connects to the memory controller hub on the chipsets, bypassing the PCI bus
on the I/O controller hub, freeing its bandwidth for other I/O operations. The
CSA connection provides bidirectional bandwidth of 2 Gbps, twice that of the
32-bit PCI bus.
The increased bandwidth of CSA can significantly improve the performance of
a
wide range of networking-related applications, enhancing the experience of
users running both mainstream programs, such as e-mail, and bandwidth-
intensive applications, such as engineering programs requiring remote data-
base lookup. These gains are most evident in multitasking situations when the
PRO/1000 CT connection is used in conjunction with an Intel Pentium 4
processor with Hyper-Threading Technology.
First 10GbE Server Adapter
The Intel PRO/10GbE LR Server Adapter is the world's first 10GbE network
interface card (NIC) designed for servers. Previously, 10GbE technology was
employed to interconnect high-capacity switches, primarily in supercomputing
environments, but had not been used to connect switches to servers supporting
LANs. The PRO/10GbE LR Server Adapter introduces the high-speed benefits of
10GbE connectivity into the LAN environment to accommodate the growing number
of large-scale systems and bandwidth-intensive applications, such as imaging
and data mirroring. The adapter supports distances up to 10 kilometers over
single-mode fiber.
"Sandia National Laboratories* is currently evaluating the Intel PRO/10GbE
Server Adapter in its partnership with Cray, Inc. for the ASCI Red Storm
project, Sandia's latest 40 TeraOps supercomputer planned to support a 10GbE
file system and I/O services infrastructure," said Len Stans, manager of the
Sandia Advanced Networking Integration Department. "Intel's commitment to
optimizing the adapter performance, as well as Intel's commitment to develop
around open standards gives us the opportunity to meet the challenging network
I/O performance goal of 25 GB/s for Red Storm."
Optical Transceiver Completes 10-Gbps Product Line for Enterprise
Intel added to its line of 10-Gbps optical products with the introduction
of
the Intel TXN18107 10 Gbps XFP Transceiver. The transceiver operates at
multiple data rates -- OC-192, 10GbE and 10-Gigabit Fibre Channel -- which
enables a single part to be qualified for multiple applications, helping to
reduce OEM costs. The XFP-compliant package gives the TXN18107 transceiver the
smallest form factor and highest port density available -- up to 16 ports per
line card -- as well as a serial electrical interface, making it well-suited
for enterprise LANs and storage-area networks. With the introduction of this
transceiver, Intel is the first to deliver products for all optical multi-
source agreements (MSAs), giving OEMs a reliable supply of standard products
from one vendor. The TXN18107 transceiver will be demonstrated at the Optical
Fiber Communications (OFC) conference in Atlanta, Ga., March 25-27.
Other New Server and GbE Products
The new Intel PRO/1000 MT Quad Port Server Adapter is the industry's first
network adapter to offer four GbE ports, enabling multi-GbE throughput,
automatic port fail-over and connections to multiple LAN segments. The adapter
will benefit IT managers faced with high-density server environments, limited
PCI or PCI-X slots, and high network throughput requirements.
The new Intel PRO/1000 MT Network Connection provides a GbE PCI-based
solution, featuring lower power consumption and the advanced management
features of the Alert Standard Forum 2.0 specification.
Pricing and Availability
Unless otherwise noted, all of the products will be either sampling or
shipping by the end of March. The Intel PRO/1000 CT Desktop Connection is
priced at $29.95. The Intel TXN18107 10GbE XFP Optical Transceiver is priced
at $500 in volume. The Intel PRO/10GbE LR Server Adapter is priced at $7,995
and will be available in April. The Intel PRO/1000 MT Quad Port Server Adapter
is priced at $575. The Intel PRO/1000 MT Network Connection is priced at
$29.95.
Web site: www.intel.com/pressroom
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