IBM Selects NetXen

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- NetXen, Inc., a leading provider of breakthrough 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) technology, today announced that IBMs recently introduced 10 Gigabit Ethernet SR adapter option for IBM System x™ servers implements NetXen technology. The server option brings the full benefits of 10-Gigabit performance for virtualization, consolidation and scalability to IBM’s volume x86 server line.

The new adapter also expands the relationship between the two companies, as NetXen continues to work with IBM on 10GbE technology solutions. The companies have previously announced their collaboration on a 10GbE expansion card for the IBM BladeCenter H system.

The SR adapter from IBM is based upon NetXen’s breakthrough Intelligent NIC™ technology, which provides multiprotocol support and unprecedented agility for 10G Ethernet networking. The card delivers up to a ten-fold increase in network I/O bandwidth compared to existing gigabit solutions. The NetXen solution is firmware-upgradeable to support offload of TCP/IP, iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface) and RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access) protocols, as well as Linux Sockets Acceleration (LSA). These capabilities significantly improve throughput and reduce host CPU utilization, enabling system performance to scale dramatically. Additionally, because the solution is firmware-upgradeable, it protects IT investment by enabling server systems to readily evolve with changing protocols and datacenter requirements.

"We have delivered a robust, scalable, upgradeable, enterprise-class 10-Gigabit networking solution," said David Pulling, president of NetXen. "Offering advanced 10GbE capabilities for volume x86 server platforms is an important step in enabling widespread technology adoption. The evolution toward the converged, agile, secure enterprise network of the future has truly begun."

NetXen Inc.