Intel has signed an agreement to buy out Barefoot Networks, an emerging leader in Ethernet switch silicon and software for use in the data center, specializing in the programmability and flexibility necessary to meet the performance and ever-changing needs of the hyperscale cloud.Navin Shenoy, executive vice president and general manager of the Data Center Group at Intel Corporation said, “Intel’s customers operate in a world that is growing and transforming by leaps and bounds. We’ve discussed previously the amazing fact that over half of the world’s data was generated in the past two years and only 2% of that data has been analyzed. Driven by that reality, we’re always asking ourselves how we can better enable our customers to harness the potential of this data, by moving, storing and processing it with the speed and efficiency that they demand.”
He adds “An essential part of the equation is providing data center interconnects that can keep pace with our customers’ extraordinary and growing requirements. This is why interconnect is one of our six technology pillars in which we are investing to serve our customers. Barefoot Networks will support our focus on end-to-end cloud networking and infrastructure leadership, and will allow Intel to continue to deliver on new workloads, experiences and capabilities for our data center customers.”
“Led by Dr. Craig Barratt and based in Santa Clara, California, Barefoot Networks will add deep expertise in cloud network architectures, P4-programmable high-speed data paths, switch silicon development, P4 compilers, driver software, network telemetry and computational networking. We look forward to serving Barefoot Networks’ current customers, and to introducing its innovative programmable networking paradigm to more customers around the world.” Shenoy concludes.