QLogic has an Infiniband moment with PathScale buy

$109m Opteron/Xeon play

By Ashlee Vance in Mountain View • Get more from this author

Posted in Data Networking, 18th February 2006 01:39 GMT

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In Brief QLogic has grabbed one of the more intriguing networking start-ups around with its $109m cash buy of PathScale.

PathScale has a nifty compiler for x86 64-bit chips but has placed its real bet on an Infiniband adapter that delivers some dramatic networking improvements in Opteron-based server clusters. QLogic sees the PathScale buy as a way to capitalize on the growing interest in Infiniband.

"PathScale's InfiniBand technology allows users to deploy large clusters of inexpensive rackmount and blade servers running Linux for high performance applications," said H.K. Desai, CEO at QLogic. "This acquisition demonstrates our commitment to entering new, high-growth markets that enhance our ability to achieve accelerated growth."

Linux Networx has already placed InfiniPath chips from PathScale right into its pre-packaged clusters. Other server vendors are expected to buy the InfiniPath HTX Adapter.

While PathScale only works with Opteron-based servers today, it has promised a PCI-Express product for the Xeon crowd that should arrive before the first quarter ends.

The acquisition is expected to close by April. ®

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