IDC: InfiniBand to seep into data center
Despite stiff competition
from 10 Gigabit Ethernet, InfiniBand-based networks will be more widely deployed in the next five years, according to a report issued by IDC.
The Framingham, Mass., research firm predicts that more than 935,000 InfiniBand host channel adapters will be purchased in 2011, a 49.8 percent increased over the approximately 124,000 sold in 2006.
This computer interconnect technology is now mostly used to stitch multiple servers into high performance computing systems as well as serve as the communication fabric for mission-critical storage area networks.
In the years to come, however, the architecture will find additional duties serving enterprise data centers, IDC predicts. Distributed databases, virtualization, multi-core processor-servers and other developments will whet a growing appetite for
high-speed, low-latency networking.
'There is an opportunity for InfiniBand to drive higher levels of adoption as the increasing demands on network throughput will require customers to make a choice based on workload requirements and existing infrastructure,' the report stated.
About the Author
Joab Jackson is the senior technology editor for Government Computer News.