Cisco puts a new spin on grid computing
Cisco puts a new spin on grid computing
Apr 15, 2005: The acquisition of Topspin communications by Cisco Systems will provide the networking company with the ability to connect servers together into a grid and then provide network and storage connectivity to that server grid.
Cisco expects that the US$250 million acquisition will provide it with the ability to provide customers and specialised networking technology and services to allow them to build their data centre in a flexible, grid-like fashion.
Topspin provides server fabric switches, which provides a high performance, programmable infrastructure for grid and utility computing, clustered enterprise applications, and server virtualisation.
Luca Cafiero, the senior vice president of the data centre, switching and wireless technology group at Cisco Systems, said: "The widespread adoption of server architecture such as blades, grid computing, and clustered applications is driving an emerging market opportunity within the data centre.
"As our customers build out these new computing environments, it is important that we deliver server networking technologies to fit their needs. By adding Topspin's server fabric switches and virtualisation software, alongside our industry leading portfolio of Ethernet and SAN switches, we are able to offer our customers compelling end-to-end data centre switching capabilities."
Topspin uses the high-speed InfiniBand technology, which is becoming supported by many major vendors, who are planning on using it as part of their clustering and/or grid solutions for both their standard and blade server solutions. These vendors include Dell, HP, IBM, NEC and Sun.
Topspin products are targeted at data centres where customers are deploying high performance grid and utility computing, clustered enterprise applications, and server virtualisation.
These institutions include enterprises, service providers, research institution and universities.
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