Huawei has unveiled what it calls the industry’s first data centre switch built for the Artificial Intelligence (AI) era – the CloudEngine 16800.
Designed to leverage the power of an embedded high-performance AI chip, the new switch uses the iLossless algorithm to implement auto-sensing and auto-optimisation of the traffic model, thereby realising lower latency and higher throughput based on zero packet loss. It also aims to overcome the computing power limitations caused by packet loss on the traditional Ethernet, increasing the AI computing power from 50 to 100 per cent and improving the data storage Input/Output Operations Per Second (IOPS) by 30 per cent.
The CloudEngine 16800 has an upgraded hardware switching platform, and with its orthogonal architecture, can overcome multiple technical challenges such as high-speed signal transmission, heat dissipation, and power supply. It provides 48-port 400GE line card per slot and a 768-port 400GE switching capacity, in order to meet the traffic multiplication requirements of AI. In addition, the power consumption per bit is reduced by 50 per cent to provide greener operation.
The switch is embedded with an AI chip to enhance the intelligence level of devices deployed at the network edge and enabling the switch to implement local inference and rapid decision-making in real time. With local intelligence and centralised network analyser FabricInsight, the distributed AI O&M architecture identifies faults swiftly and automatically locates them, helping to accelerate the advent of autonomous driving network. Furthermore, this architecture greatly improves the flexibility and deployability of O&M systems.
Leon Wang, general manager of Huawei Data Centre Network Domain, commented: ‘Huawei CloudEngine series data centre switches have been successfully launched into commercial use for more than 6,000 customers, helping digital transformation of industry customers such as finance, Internet, and carrier customers. Huawei launched the CloudEngine 16800 to help customers accelerate intelligent transformation, achieve pervasive use of AI, and jointly build a fully connected and intelligent world.’