Intel buys InfiniBand for fast supercomputer networking
updated 11:20 am EST, Mon January 23, 2012
QLogic's InfiniBand purchased by Intel for $125m
Computer chipmaker Intel revealed on Monday that it has began talks with QLogic to buy some assets of its InfiniBand division. For the $125 million cash price, the deal may also involve a large number of InfiniBand employees coming over to Intel. The move is part of Intel's commitment to create an Exascale supercomputer to meet DARPA's challenge by 2018.
The exaflop per second target is equivalent to a quintillion computer operations per second, which is one hundred times faster than today's supercomputers.
InfiniBand specializes in making fabric technology used in connecting servers in high-performance computer installations.
The deal should be completed by the spring, though it requires that all conditions are met and regulatory approval goes ahead.
