Omni-Path

Omni-Path (also Omni-Path Architecture, abbr. OPA) was a high-performance communication architecture owned by Intel. It aims for low communication latency, low power consumption and a high throughput. Intel planned to develop technology based on this architecture for exascale computing.[1][2][3] In 2017, Intel was offering at least 7 variations of multi-port Ethernet switches using this term in the form "Intel® Omni-Path Edge Switch 100 Series" all "supporting 100 Gb/s for all ports". First models of that series were already available starting Q4/2015.[4]

History
Computing node of TSUBAME 3.0 supercomputer with four Omni-Path connections

Production of Omni-Path products started in 2015 and mass delivery of these products started in the first quarter of 2016. In November 2015, adapters based on the 2-port "Wolf River" ASIC[5] were announced, using QSFP28 connectors with channel speeds up to 100 Gbit/s. Simultaneously, switches based on the 48-port "Prairie River" ASIC were announced.[6]

In April 2016, implementation of the InfiniBand "verbs" interface for the Omni-Path fabric was discussed.[7]

In October 2016, IBM, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Dell, Lenovo, Samsung, Seagate Technology, Micron, Western Digital and SK Hynix announced a joint consortium called Gen-Z to develop an open specification and architecture for non-volatile storage and memory products—including Intel's 3D Xpoint technology—which might in part compete against Omni-Path.[8]

In July 2019, it was announced that Intel will not continue development of Omni-Path networks and canceled OPA 200 series (200-Gbps variant of Omni-Path).[9][10]

In September 2020, Intel announced that the Omni-Path network products and technology would be spun out into a new venture with Cornelis Networks. Intel would continue to maintain support for legacy Omni-Path products, while Cornelis Networks continues the product line, leveraging existing Intel intellectual property related to Omni-Path architecture.[11][12][13]

OEM availability

Intel also offered their Omni-Path products and components via other (hardware) vendors so customers can get all support for their environment from a single vendor. For example, Dell EMC offers the Intel Omni-Path solution as Dell Networking H-series,[14] following the familiar naming-standard of Dell Networking.

See also

References
  1. "Intel Architects High Performance Computing System Designs to Bring Power of Supercomputing Mainstream". Intel. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  2. "Intel Reveals Details for Future High-Performance Computing System Building Blocks as Momentum Builds for Intel® Xeon Phi™ Product". Intel. 17 November 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  3. Richard Chirgwin (17 November 2015). "Intel's Omni-Path InfiniBand-killer debuts at sizzling 100 Gb/sec". The Register. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  4. INTEL® OMNI-PATH EDGE SWITCH PRODUCTS: Intel Fabric Products
  5. Timothy Prickett Morgan (16 November 2015). "Intel Rounds Out Scalable Systems With Omni-Path". The Next Platform. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  6. "Intel Announces New Details for Future HPC Products and Extended Industry Collaborations at ISC 2015" (PDF). Intel. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  7. Weiny, Ira (5 April 2016). "Extending RDMA for Alternative Fabrics" (PDF). 12th Annual OpenFabrics Workshop.
  8. Shah, Agam (11 October 2016). "Hardware makers unite to challenge Intel with Gen-Z spec". cio.com. CIO. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  9. Martin, Dylan (31 July 2019). "Intel Kills 2nd-Gen Omni-Path Interconnect For HPC, AI Workloads". CRN. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  10. "Intel Confirms Retreat on Omni-Path". HPCwire. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  11. "Intel Omni-Path Business Spun Out as Cornelis Networks". HPCwire. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  12. "Omni-Path HPC Interconnect Reemerges as Intel Spin-out with $20M Investment Round from Intel Capital, Others". HPCwire. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  13. "Intel® Fabric Products". HPCwire. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  14. Dell website on Dell Networking H-series, visited 17 April 2017
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