CHANDLER, Ariz., March 14, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- PCIe switches play
a pivotal role in next-generation open hyperscale data center
specifications now being embraced by developer communities around
the world. Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP),
via its Microsemi Corporation subsidiary, today announced its
Switchtec™ PSX Gen3 PCIe programmable storage switches have been
included in a reference design from Tencent that has been posted to the web site of
the Open Data Center Committee (ODCC), a consortium formed by
China's leading technology
providers. An ODCC co-sponsor, Tencent has based the reference design on its
T-Flex architecture that uses the switches to pool Non-Volatile
Memory (NVMe) storage, Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), Network
Interface Cards (NICs) and other resources, which improves
configuration flexibility in high-performance I/O and storage
designs and heterogeneous computing applications.
The T-Flex reference design featuring the Switchtec PCIe switch
was jointly developed by Tencent and
its partner Inspur, the top-selling server supplier in China. T-Flex uses the Switchtec PSX Gen3
96-lane PCIe programmable storage switch to enable flexible,
high-density designs that combine performance and efficiency with
more agile delivery of diverse resources. By bringing scalable I/O
resource pooling to NVMe Solid State Disks (SSDs), GPUs, NICs, and
other PCI endpoints, the PSX PCIe switch enables a T-Flex system to
deliver dynamic and flexible configurability while supporting
different services with different hardware I/O performance
requirements.
"Tier-one data center providers like Tencent are leveraging the capabilities that the
Switchtec PCIe switches offer for enabling highly flexible compute
and storage rack architectures," said Andrew Dieckmann, vice president of marketing
and applications in Microchip's Data Center Solutions business
unit. "The publication of this reference design by ODCC will enable
ODCC members to readily adopt this architecture and leverage the
benefits of a composable infrastructure."
"We're excited to use the Switchtec PSX Gen3 PCIe programmable
storage switch in the T-flex program," said Herry Wang,
Tencent Server Department
Manager. "It is a low-power solution that enables superior
signal integrity, supports native x2 port bifurcation and provides
a flexible programmable interface. Additionally, the
Switchtec ChipLink diagnostic tool features advanced debug
capabilities that aided and simplified overall system
development."
This is the second time the Switchtec Gen3 PCIe switch has been
selected for an open reference design, in this case specifically
for ODCC members. In 2017, the Switchtec PCIe Gen3 switch was
incorporated into the Open Compute Project (OCP) Lightning (ST7200)
reference design, which is also offered as a product by
cloud-infrastructure provider Wiwynn for data center applications
including enterprise storage systems, storage servers and Rack
Scale Architecture infrastructure. The Switchtec PCIe switch
enables a single-chip device in these applications to connect
multiple PCIe NVMe SSDs while extending flexibility in the firmware
to optimize the switch for specific application needs. The
Switchtec PCIe switch enables high-density, high-port-count systems
with differentiating features such as the ability to customize
functionality for cloud applications.
When used in a T-Flex IO resource pooling system, the Switchtec
PSX Gen3 PCIe programmable storage switch enables connection of up
to 16 host servers. Each host server can connect up to of four
downstream T-Flex boxes and each of these T-Flex boxes can contain
up to four GPU cards supporting Artificial Intelligence (AI)
computing. This means that one server can connect up to 16 GPU
cards when connecting four T-Flex boxes.
Pricing and Availability
The Tencent T-Flex reference design
is posted to the Open Data Center Committee (ODCC) website
at: http://www.opendatacenter.cn/download/22 and available to
ODCC members. Support is provided by Tencent and Inspur. For additional information
regarding the Switchtec PSX Gen3 PCIe programmable storage
switches, visit
https://www.microsemi.com/product-directory/storage/4018-pcie-storage-switches,
contact a Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide
distributor, or visit Microsemi's website. Products may be
purchased at
https://www.microsemi.com/product-directory/storage/4018-pcie-storage-switches#ordering,
or by contacting an authorized distributor.
About Microsemi's PCI Express Product Portfolio
Microsemi is a premier supplier of high value-add PCIe products
including the scalable, low power, high-reliability PFX family of
PCIe Gen3 fanout switches, the programmable PSX family of PCIe Gen3
storage switches, the PAX family of PCI Gen 3 advanced fabric
switches and the low power, multi-protocol, adaptive EQNOX™
family of signal conditioners with FlexEQ™ equalization technology
supporting PCIe Gen3 and PCIe Gen2. Microsemi's PCIe family is key
to building low power and high-reliability data center,
communications, defense and industrial servers; workstations;
switches; routers; cellular infrastructure and test equipment. For
more information about Microsemi's PCIe portfolio, visit
https://www.microsemi.com/product-directory/storage/4346-pcie-gen3-switches.
About Microchip
Technology
Microchip Technology Inc. is a
leading semiconductor supplier of smart, connected and secure
embedded control solutions. Its easy-to-use development tools
and comprehensive product portfolio enable customers to create
optimal designs which reduce risk while lowering total system cost
and time to market. The company's solutions serve more than 125,000
customers across the industrial, automotive, consumer, aerospace
and defense, communications and computing markets. Headquartered in
Chandler, Arizona, Microchip
offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery
and quality. For more information, visit the Microchip website
at www.microchip.com.
Note: The Microchip name and logo and the Microchip logo are
registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the
U.S.A. and other countries.
Switchtec, EQNOX, and FlexEQ are trademarks of Microchip Technology
Inc. in the U.S.A. and other
countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property
of their respective companies.
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SOURCE Microchip Technology Inc.