INDUSTRY

Topspin Communications, the leader in switched computing, and Tokyo-based Nissho Electronics Corporation, today announced that Nissho will distribute Topspin's InfiniBand-based server switch products in Japan. Nissho is one of Japan's top high-technology distributors, with a focus on OEM technologies, networking and storage solutions. "In the next generation of high performance computing and database clustering technologies, InfiniBand's central role as a network fabric is without question," said Toshihiko Yamaguchi, general manager for Nissho's Innovative Devices Division. "Within the Innovative Devices Division, we are partnering with Topspin, the leading supplier of server switch technologies for major U.S. OEMs, including IBM, Sun, Dell and HP, to bring the latest technologies to the Japanese OEM market." Topspin allows customers to build high-performance computing clusters with industry-standard "building blocks" such as Linux-based Intel architecture servers, Ethernet networks, and Fibre Channel storage. Leveraging the InfiniBand standard, Topspin's server switch products interconnect servers into a flexible fabric and seamlessly provide access from that fabric to Ethernet- or Fibre Channel-attached network and storage resources. Hitoshi Niki, general manager of the IT Solution Strategic Promotion Division added, "Topspin offers an exciting and critical new generation technology, allowing the pooling of server, storage, and network resources into a single, virtual computing fabric for distribution of workload based on required services. Topspin is an essential strategic partner for Nissho's strategy of open modular computing." Under the Master Distributor agreement, Nissho will market and distribute Topspin's industry leading server switch products to end customers, distribution channels, and strategic OEM partners throughout Japan, including the existing Topspin 360 and Topspin 90 server switches, Host Channel Adapter cards, and Fibre Channel Gateways. Nissho will also offer recently announced Topspin products, including: -- Topspin 270 - The highest quality, most reliable, and best performing large switch in the InfiniBand market; the Topspin 270 offers 96 non-blocking ports and full subnet and chassis management. The server switch is fully redundant and highly available, and is designed to take networks "from clusters to grids." -- Topspin 120 - This server switch offers 24 non-blocking ports, is fully managed, and offers high availability through hot swap power supplies and fans. Topspin's least expensive switch product also offers fantastic cost-per-port advantages and is the perfect switch to build larger, modular clusters. -- EX Ethernet Gateway - The Ethernet Gateway extends the value of server clusters to the rest of the enterprise by providing seamless connectivity to existing IP networks. The EX model offers 6 GigE ports all capable of line rate performance, and is capable of 10.5M packets per second throughput. "Establishing Nissho as a Master Distributor for Topspin, offers us additional resources to drive growth in the strategic Japanese market," said Patrick Conte, vice president of Worldwide Sales at Topspin Communications. "Nissho has an excellent reputation in building OEM partnerships, and we are confident they will help us continue the success we have had worldwide of bringing key OEMs to market with InfiniBand and Server Switch technology. In addition, we are excited about Nissho's expertise in storage solutions and knowledge of that market, which we know will help us penetrate key enterprise accounts."