Network Interface Cards target virtual machines.
Press Release Summary:
By allowing each virtual machine to establish its own network queue, TAA-compliant Models AT-2973SX and AT-2973T optimize throughput of data intake and distribution process. Model AT-2973SX is a dual-port, fiber, 1000SX Gigabit PCIe, 4-lane virtualization NIC, while Model AT-2973T is a dual-port 1000T Gigabit PCIe 4-lane virtualization NIC. Both are Message Signal Interrupt capable, providing alternative way of interrupting host CPU to manage multiple network queues.
Original Press Release:
Allied Telesis Launches TAA-Compliant Network Cards for Virtual Machines
Dual-port Fiber and Copper Gigabit Network Interface Cards Eligible for Government IT Contracts Control Multiple Network Queues for Superior System Performance
SAN JOSE, Calif., -- Allied Telesis Inc., a global provider of secure IP/Ethernet switching solutions and an industry leader in the deployment of IP Triple-Play networks, today announced the launch of the AT-2973SX and AT-2973T virtualization Network Interface Cards (NICs), marking the Company's first product for servers running virtual machines. The AT-2973 products improve network efficiency and system performance by increasing resource sharing and utilization, while lowering the overall cost of virtual machines. In addition, the AT-2973 set of virtualization cards are Trade Agreement Act (TAA) compliant, helping Allied Telesis customers and resellers meet the requirements of the General Services Administration (GSA), and the procurement arm of the Federal government.
The operating system needed to perform as a virtual machine is complex, and while chipsets have been enhanced in recent years to accommodate this trend, it is still a significant task to create a true virtual machine. Queuing reduces performance of virtual machines as the host central processing unit (CPU) performs the task of assembling and disassembling incoming messages into a single queue and directing the data to the correct virtual machine. To address this issue, the AT-2973 increases throughput of the data intake and distribution process by allowing each virtual machine to establish its own network queue.
"With the rise of virtualized server environments, we have seen increased interest in high-performance, cost-effective network interface cards optimized for virtual networks," said Nick Paredes, product marketing manager, Allied Telesis. "Further, by meeting TAA guidelines for manufacturing, we have enhanced our suite of products to meet the standards set by Federal information technology contracts requiring the use of TAA-eligible products."
The AT-2973SX is a dual-port, fiber, 1000SX Gigabit Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe), four-lane virtualization NIC; the AT-2973T is a dual-port 1000T Gigabit PCIe four-lane virtualization NIC. The AT-2973 is MSI-x (Message Signal Interrupt) capable, providing an alternative way of interrupting the host CPU to manage multiple network queues, one for each virtual machine therefore increasing utilization and enabling greater scalability.
To further speed-up the communications process, the AT-2973 processes the data directly from the application buffers on the host computer and manages transfer to the communications engine, lowering data exchange latency of the host CPU. The four-lane AT-2973 is also PCI-Express v2.0 compliant, moving data at 2Gbps (gigabits per second), twice the capacity of the earlier v1.0 bus.
As customers migrate to virtualized information technology (IT) environments, they may also be using the computers as part of a storage solution. The AT-2973 supports storage transport means, including iSCSI v1.0 (Internet Small Computer System Interface) and can be an iSER (iSCSI Extension for Remote Direct Memory Access) Host Bus Adaptor (HBA), allowing it to be the main computer (initiator) or the storage device (target) to facilitate data transfers between virtual machines and manage storage over long distances.
The AT-2973SX and AT-2973T are available from Allied Telesis now priced at USD$299 for the AT-2973T and USD$699 for the AT-2973SX.
About Allied Telesis
For more than 20 years, Allied Telesis has been a leading provider of networking infrastructure. Today, the company enables delivery of data, voice, and video services to a variety of clients globally. Allied Telesis is committed to innovating the way in which services and applications are delivered and managed, resulting in increased value and lower operating costs.
Visit us online at http://www.alliedtelesis.com/.
CONTACT: Ann Johnson, Allied Telesis, +1-408-519-8635, Ann_Johnson@alliedtelesis.com,
Web Site: http://www.alliedtelesis.com/
