- Western Digital (WDC, Financial) partners with Ingrasys to create a high-performance Top-of-Rack switch integrating embedded storage for AI workflows.
- The collaboration aims to accelerate AI market growth by providing low-latency, fabric-attached disaggregated storage solutions.
- Targeted for 2027 availability, the partnership leverages Western Digital's RapidFlex NVMe-oF technology and Ingrasys' manufacturing expertise.
Western Digital (WDC) and Ingrasys, a division of Foxconn Technology Group, have announced a strategic collaboration to develop a next-generation Top-of-Rack (TOR) switch with embedded storage. This new Ethernet Bunch of Flash (EBOF) switch is designed to offer distributed storage at the network edge, reducing the need for independent storage networks and minimizing latency in data access.
The collaboration will see Ingrasys manufacturing the high-density TOR EBOF using Western Digital's cutting-edge RapidFlex NVMe-oF bridge technology. Western Digital will oversee the architecture and spearhead market efforts, focusing on CSP and storage OEM clientele. The joint venture stands as a significant advancement in the AI sector, supporting the adoption of fabric-attached, disaggregated storage solutions crucial for handling AI workflow demands.
Anticipated to be available by 2027, this pioneering integration of networking and storage technologies will include Western Digital's RapidFlex fabric bridge device, supporting 100G Ethernet and NVMe/PCIe Gen6 drive slots. Featuring NVIDIA Spectrum™-4 switch ASIC, the TOR switch aims to deliver exceptional performance with flexible 400/800GbE cabling options.
Through this collaboration, Western Digital and Ingrasys are set to revolutionize data center infrastructure, offering scalable, flexible, and efficient storage solutions tailored for modern AI and data-centric workloads. This initiative exemplifies a shared commitment to innovation and customer-focused design, ensuring that data centers can meet the evolving demands of AI and disaggregated infrastructure efficiently.
