Application Notes

Using 10 Gigabit Ethernet in Shared Network I/O on Blade Platforms

Tehuti Networks and NextIO have partnered to create an innovative hardware architecture for blade platforms called shared I/O. The primary benefits of the new architecture include significant cost reduction in hardware components and total cost of ownership while maintaining the performance and flexibility originally intended for blade platforms. A single I/P controller such as Tehuti Networks 10 Gigabit Ethernet controller TN3011-S is shared between up to 16 blade servers. NextIO's PCIe switch (NEXSIS) directs intra-blade traffic as well as requests to the external network. This eliminates the need for a costly Ethernet switch which was previously required for blades to communicate to one another within a blade chassis. This application note will describe the configuration and benefits of this new shared I/O architecture. Using 10 Gigabit Ethernet in Shared Network I/O on Blade Platforms.