New Intel Products Accelerate the Transition to Higher Ethernet Speeds
OFC 2003
Products Include GbE Controller that Doubles Data Throughput on
PCs, the First 10GbE Server Adapter and a Smaller Optical Transceiver
for Enterprise Networks
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 2003--
Intel Corporation today 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(R) 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(R) Pentium(R) 4
processor with Hyper-Threading Technology.
First 10GbE Server Adapter
The Intel(R) 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(R) 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(R) 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(R) 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.
Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is also a leading
manufacturer of computer, networking and communications products.
Additional information about Intel is available at
http://www.intel.com/pressroom.
Intel is a trademark or registered trademark of Intel Corporation
or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.
* Other marks and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
CONTACT: Intel
Scott E. Smith, 510/497-9422 or 510/364-5754 (Mobile)
scott1.e.smith@intel.com
Mary-Ellin Brooks, 408/765-0727 or 408/621-1172 (Mobile)
mary-ellin.brooks@intel.com
