7/10/2006 -- Think Cisco Systems Inc. isn't bullish about InfiniBand? Think again. Cisco last month announced a common framework that integrates both Ethernet and InfiniBand, along with integrated end-to-end management software and a new InfiniBand switching platform and operating system software.

The announcement is good news for joint users of InfiniBand and Ethernet, analysts say, but its potential applicability is limited. "[T]he InfiniBand market is small and limited to high-performance computing clusters and is threatened by the falling prices of 10 Gigabit Ethernet equipment," says Steven Schuchart, a senior analyst for enterprise infrastructure with consultancy Current Analysis. "InfiniBand is still largely a boutique technology and Cisco is the only major Ethernet switch provider to sell InfiniBand equipment, so its management integration only slightly bolsters an already dominant position in the market."

In addition to management integration -- which includes CiscoWorks LMS, Resource Manager Essentials and Dynamic Fault Manager, all of which support Cisco's SFS-7000 Series InfiniBand switches -- Cisco announced a new InfiniBand switch offering, the 7000D Series InfiniBand DDR switch. All told, Cisco's moves help further buttress its position as the InfiniBand provider of choice, Schuchart says, because they give customers a way to manage both the Ethernet network as well as the InfiniBand network with familiar tools. In addition, he notes, the operating systems for the SFS 7000 series have been updated to reflect familiar Cisco IOS commands and command line structures.

That's the good news. The not-so-good news, on the other hand, concerns the InfiniBand market itself, which is relatively small and confined to high-performance computing clusters, Schuchart notes.

"Cisco's own high performance Ethernet equipment is currently eclipsed by competitors Foundry Networks and Force 10 Networks. This announcement will only help with high-performance computing sales where InfiniBand has been chosen as the transport of choice," he points out.

There is, however, a small chance Cisco's beaucoup integration push could be a catalyst for InfiniBand uptake, Schuchart concedes. "With the unification of management across Ethernet and InfiniBand product lines, Cisco is eliminating some of the costs associated with point tools for management on the network, including some software licensing, training and procedural costs," he acknowledges, noting, for example, that "with a familiar interface, it will be much easier for administrators to handle both interconnect networks."

Cisco's new InfiniBand switches boast double data rate transfers of up to 20/Gbps -- approximately twice that of 10 Gigabit Ethernet. Impressive performance, to be sure, but there's a strong likelihood that Gigabit Ethernet -- or some Ethernet-based derivative -- will ultimately bury InfiniBand, Schuchart says. "The most significant drawback is the uncertainly of InfiniBand itself. InfiniBand is in its second life, but will be going up against 10 Gigabit Ethernet. Considering Ethernet's track record of completely displacing competing technologies, the long-term prospects for InfiniBand do not look good." -Stephen Swoyer