STORAGE

Mellanox Announces Availability of InfiniBand to Ethernet Gateway Functionality

Written by: Tyler O'Neal, Staff Editor
Category: STORAGE

New functionality enables a single switch to be used for both InfiniBand and Ethernet switching with an integrated gateway between the networks


At Interop Las Vegas 2013, Mellanox Technologies, has announced the next step in its Virtual Protocol Interconnect® (VPI®) solution strategy, with the availability of an integrated InfiniBand to Ethernet gateway in its SwitchX-based InfiniBand and Ethernet switch systems. With the new gateway functionality, the Mellanox edge switches can now be used for both InfiniBand and Ethernet switches at the same time with an integrated gateway capability between the two networks. Together with Mellanox’s ConnectX®-3 VPI interconnect adapters, IT managers can take advantage of Mellanox’s highly efficient end-to-end interconnect solutions for their unified and flexible InfiniBand and Ethernet data centers.,


Built with Mellanox’s SwitchX-based switches, the InfiniBand to Ethernet gateway software license, or system, provides full port flexibility to toggle between 56Gb/s InfiniBand and either 10, 40 and 56Gb/s Ethernet with low 400ns latency.


Mellanox’s gateway software license provides the following features:

  • VPI on the Box - converts entire InfiniBand switch to Ethernet switch and vice versa
  • VPI per Port – flexible port definition of InfiniBand and Ethernet fabrics on one system
  • VPI Gateway – flexible port definition of InfiniBand and Ethernet fabrics with gateway capabilities between the two fabrics


“Mellanox’s new InfiniBand to Ethernet gateway functionality built within Mellanox switches provides the most cost-effective, high-performance solution for data center unified connectivity solutions,” said Gilad Shainer, vice president of marketing at Mellanox Technologies. “Mellanox’s systems enable data centers to operate at 56Gb/s network speeds while seamlessly connecting to 1, 10 and 40 Gigabit Ethernet networks. Existing LAN infrastructures and management practices can be preserved, easing deployment and providing significant return-on-investment.”


The InfiniBand to Ethernet Gateway license is available today. The InfiniBand to Ethernet gateway system will be available in the third quarter of 2013.