IBM Infini Band Update Chet Mehta 2008 Sonoma

IBM Infini. Band Update Chet Mehta 2008 Sonoma Workshop www. openfabrics. org

Topics Ø Infini. Band: Importance to IBM Ø IBM Infini. Band Deployment Ø IBM IB Deployment Challenges Ø Enterprise Customer Expectations www. openfabrics. org 2

Infini. Band: Importance to IBM Ø Infini. Band remains a strategic interconnect for IBM § Co-chair IBTA § Active involvement in OFA • LWG, EWG Ø IBM efforts targeted to establish Infini. Band as an industry standard § Lowers cost of solution for our customers § Reduces IBM Development Expenses Ø Leverage industry components, software § Switches, cables, HCAs, OFA developed software Ø Provide IBM value added hardware, firmware & software § Virtualizing HCA, IBM Parallel Environment OFA accomplishments critical to IBM IB strategy! www. openfabrics. org 3

IBM Infini. Band Deployment Ø Initial focus on HPC segment § Soon expanding support to commercial markets Ø Supported on System x & p today § System x • Use industry PCI & HTX based HCA • Industry IB switches • Utilizes OFA’s OFED releases through vendor distributions • Driven by Time-to-Market • Prefer distro supported versions! § System p utilizes OFA OFED releases • Use IBM GX HCA (e. HCA) • Introducing 2 nd generation soon • • Industry IB switches Linux supported only through Distros releases! IB supported in AIX Support IBM Parallel Environment & GPFS over IB www. openfabrics. org 4

IBM IB Deployment Challenges Ø Vendor unique distribution challenges § Unique support & diagnostics tools § Worldwide service & support capabilities Ø OFED Release model challenges § Geared to end users not Enterprise customers § “All or none” release approach Ø Challenges for IB deployment in commercial environments § Slow availability of protocols & APIs that leverage technology § Maturity of cross-vendor IB management § Lag in availability of OFED releases from Linux distros Ø IB Cables! www. openfabrics. org 5

Enterprise Customer Expectations Ø IBM § If you chose to support it, make it work! Ø Vendors § Work collaboratively towards interoperability § Aggressively embrace and enhance common IB management • SM, Diagnostics, etc. Ø OFA § Tailor OFED activities to distro requirements § Change OFED release from “All or none” to “Available when ready” at function/component level! Ø Distros § Join OFA to influence direction § Take leadership role in driving OFA’s release process www. openfabrics. org 6