Two New Intel Controllers Streamline Multicore Networking Performance

July 24, 2007

Intel Corporation today announced two new Ethernet controllers that facilitate high traffic flow and optimize I/O performance in such enterprise server environments as multicore Intel Xeon processor-based systems and virtualized datacenters. The Intel 82598 and Intel 82575 Ethernet controllers distribute workloads across all available processing cores to reduce utilization and achieve optimal system performance.

The Intel 82598 10 Gigabit Ethernet Controller provides energy-efficient, dual-port, PCI Express-based 10GbE connectivity to handle high-speed interconnects. This product addresses the networking bottlenecks associated with server consolidation and is ideal for virtualization and such demanding enterprise applications as storage and high performance computing.

The Intel 82575 Gigabit Ethernet Controller offers many of the same features at 1GbE connectivity. This new dual-port controller, which provides virtualization optimizations, is designed for use in Intel's next-generation low-profile, quad-port server adapters.

"We introduced our first Ethernet controller 25 years ago, and today continue with our leadership with our second generation 10GbE controller," said Tom Swinford, general manager of Intel's LAN Access Division. "Our new low-power, high-performance, dual port 10GbE controller doubles past connectivity to better meet the ever-increasing server traffic loads of LAN and Ethernet Storage."

The extensive growth in dense computing environments, AdvancedTCA and embedded platforms has also been driving the need for low-power, high-bandwidth designs. The Intel 82598 10 Gigabit Ethernet Controller provides dual-port 10GbE at an average of just 4.8 watts.

"We believe the Intel 82598 10 Gigabit Ethernet Controller, with its outstanding performance and power efficiency, is ideally suited for many types of today's data center applications and will complement Cisco's high-performance Catalyst data center products," said Richard Palmer, senior vice president and general manager of Security Technology Group, Cisco.

The controllers also support Intel I/O Acceleration Technology (Intel I/OAT), which increases I/O throughput and reduces CPU utilization in multicore Intel processor-based servers.

"Microsoft and Intel have worked closely to deliver integrated support for Intel I/OAT in the upcoming release of Windows Server 2008," said Henry Sanders, distinguished engineer and general manager of Microsoft Windows Networking*. "Our mutual customers will benefit from the numerous enhancements in these products, resulting in even greater application performance and scalability on their multicore Intel® Xeon® processor-based Windows Servers."

In addition to Cisco and Microsoft, Intel is also working closely with leading server vendors to validate the new controllers for future systems.

The Intel® 82575 Gigabit Ethernet Controller is available now, and the Intel® 82598 10 Gigabit Ethernet Controller will be available for volume shipment in September. More information is available at http://www.intel.com/network .

Source: Intel