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IBM Expands Data Center Portfolio with Voltaire Switches

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

IBM has added 10 gigabit Ethernet switches from long-time data center partner Voltaire to its roster of resold products, further expanding its data center portfolio. The Vantage 8500, a 10G Ethernet switch, is now generally available and can be purchased from IBM under a new resale agreement between the two companies. This move is seen as a response to Cisco's entry into the data center server market, traditionally dominated by IBM and HP.

IBM has been reselling Voltaire's Infiniband gear for five years, and the new agreement extends their partnership to include 10G Ethernet switches. The Vantage 8500 is a high-density Layer 2 core switch that features less than 1 microsecond latency and 10 watts per port power consumption. Up to 12 of the switches can be clustered to support thousands of servers without degrading performance or latency, according to Voltaire.

As part of the agreement, IBM will also offer the Vantage 8500 as part of its integrated System Cluster 1350 portfolio of products. Voltaire has also announced the reseller agreement with IBM to promote their Vantage 8500 switches.

Key Takeaways:

  • IBM has expanded its data center portfolio with 10 gigabit Ethernet switches from Voltaire.
  • The Vantage 8500 switch is a high-density Layer 2 core switch that features less than 1 microsecond latency and 10 watts per port power consumption.
  • Up to 12 of the switches can be clustered to support thousands of servers without degrading performance or latency.
  • The agreement is seen as a response to Cisco's entry into the data center server market.
  • IBM has been reselling Voltaire's Infiniband gear for five years.
  • The Vantage 8500 is available as part of IBM's integrated System Cluster 1350 portfolio of products.
  • Voltaire will announce other resellers of the Vantage switch in the near future.

Statistics:

  • IBM has been reselling Voltaire's Infiniband gear for 5 years.
  • The Vantage 8500 switch features less than 1 microsecond latency.
  • The switch has 10 watts per port power consumption.
  • Up to 12 of the switches can be clustered to support thousands of servers without degrading performance or latency.

Sources:

  • "IBM adds Voltaire switches to data center portfolio"

Network World

  • "Voltaire Reserves New Ethernet Switch for Data Centers"

Geek.com

  • "IBM And Voltaire Strengthen Data Center Partnership"

Chip Design Magazine

  • "IBM Adds 10 Gbps Switch Module to BladeCenter Product Line"

Voltaire Inc.

  • "HP, IBM, and Cisco Team to Implement InfiniBand for High-Performance Computing"

International Business Times

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