A high-speed interface used to connect storage networks and computer clusters, introduced in 1999. Using switched, point-to-point channels similar to mainframes and also similar to PCI Express (switched version of PCI), InfiniBand is designed for fabric architectures interconnecting devices in local networks.
A Technology Merger
Supporting both copper wire and optical fibers and originally known as "System I/O," InfiniBand is a combination of Intel's NGIO (Next Generation I/O) and Future I/O from IBM, HP and Compaq. For more information, visit the InfiniBand Trade Association at www.infinibandta.org. See
RDMA,
PCI Express,
NGIO and
Future I/O.
INFINIBAND SIGNALING SPEEDS IN EACH
DIRECTION (Gigabits per Second)
Data transfer rate is
80% of signaling speed.
Type Number of
(DR = Bonded Channels
data rate) 1x 4x 8x 12x
Single (SDR) 2.5 10 20 30
Double (DDR) 5 20 40 60
Quad (QDR) 10 40 80 120
14 (FDR) 14 56 112 168
Enhanced (EDR) 26 104 208 312