Intel has agreed to acquire Ethernet switch silicon and software specialist for the data centre, Barefoot Networks.
The move is designed to support Intel’s focus on end-to-end cloud networking and infrastructure, helping with the delivery on new workloads, experiences and capabilities for its data centre customers.
In a statement sent by email, Navin Shenoy, executive vice president and general manager of the Data Center Group at Intel Corporation stated: ‘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 two per cent of that data has been analysed. 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. An essential part of the equation is providing data centre 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 is led by Dr. Craig Barratt and based in Santa Clara, California. Shenoy continued: ‘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. Most important, this is one of the most talented and experienced teams in this domain in the industry.’
The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2019.
