AMD has announced the launch of the Pensando Pollara 400 network interface card (NIC), making it the first in the market to comply with the Ultra Ethernet Consortium’s (UEC) 1.0 specification. This development comes as a significant advancement targeted at high-data-rate AI networks.
The unveiling took place at the recent Advancing AI event, where AMD showcased its new series of Instinct MI350 GPUs. Amidst the excitement of this launch, the Pollara 400GbE NIC was introduced, which will soon begin shipping after its initial announcement back in 2024. Alongside the release of the Pollara, AMD also revealed plans for an upcoming 800Gb NIC, known as Vulcano, which will also be UEC-compliant.
The UEC, established in 2023 under the Linux Foundation, comprises several prominent technology companies, including AMD, Intel, and Nvidia. Its purpose is to develop standards that cater to large-scale AI and high-performance computing (HPC) requirements.
The Pollara 400GbE NIC is purpose-built for environments scaling thousands of AI processors, featuring customizable hardware that allows for advanced Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) transport and intelligent routing to reduce latency. This positions it similarly to Nvidia’s NVLink c2c technology. Furthermore, it maintains compatibility with RoCEv2 and interoperability with other NICs.
At the event, AMD’s CEO Lisa Su also introduced Vulcano, their next-generation NIC that supports PCIe and dual interfaces for both CPUs and GPUs, enabling speed up to 800 Gb/s. Combined with AMD’s custom AI rack design, Helios, this setup optimizes GPU connections through high-speed Ethernet, creating a system that mimics a single processor.
Notably, Oracle has emerged as the first cloud service provider to adopt the Pollara NIC and Helios ensemble, positioning itself to enhance its public cloud offerings, which currently capture about 3% of the market, still trailing giants like AWS and Microsoft.
Welcome to DediRock, your trusted partner in high-performance hosting solutions. At DediRock, we specialize in providing dedicated servers, VPS hosting, and cloud services tailored to meet the unique needs of businesses and individuals alike. Our mission is to deliver reliable, scalable, and secure hosting solutions that empower our clients to achieve their digital goals. With a commitment to exceptional customer support, cutting-edge technology, and robust infrastructure, DediRock stands out as a leader in the hosting industry. Join us and experience the difference that dedicated service and unwavering reliability can make for your online presence. Launch our website.