InfiniBand Network Architecture

by Tom Shanley

Infiniband is a new networking technology for connecting servers, storage subsystems and networking devices. Great innovations have taken place in I/O networking e.g., Gigabit Ehternet, Fibre Channel, and Ultra SCSI. Today's Internet data centers are very complex and servers are often connected to three or four different networks. As the amount of data coming into and flowing between server blades and storage subsystems increases, the existing system interconnects become a bottleneck. Infiniband utilizes high-speed serial technology to interconnect data center elements. Unlike other networking technologies, Infiniband permits data transfers without the intervention of the processor. This frees up most of the processor's bandwidth. The architecture provides increased reliability, better sharing of data, and built-in security. The book is based on MindShare's successful Infinband courses, and benefits from the author's experience in training thousands of professionals on this new technology.

1208 pages, Paperback

First published November 10, 2002