Intel is working on technology called I/O Acceleration
Technology in a bid to improve the way computers handle input and
output protocols. The company claims its approach could boost
network data and server applications by up to 30%.
While server CPU performance and network bandwidth has improved
over the years, the primary method for moving data has not changed.
Pat Gelsinger, Intel senior vice president for the digital
enterprise group, said, "The benefit of the technology to end users
will be better performance, particularly on transaction
applications, such as Web commerce or electronic banking, while
businesses will benefit from reduced cost of ownership and improved
ability to grow their systems."
In modern computers the processor in a server shoulders the
total burden of processing, including constructing and deciphering
protocol in order to send and receive items of data. Supporting I/O
protocols can be processor-intensive which means the processor's
operation is diverted and response time, reliability and the
end-users' experience can suffer, Intel said.
Intel I/O Acceleration Technology aims to distribute the
data-handling function between the processor, the chipset, network
controller and software.
This approach reduces the workload on the processor while
accelerating the flow of data, Intel said. The processor's job is
reduced by giving the chipset and network controller responsibility
for moving data in and out of memory.
Intel said it will also optimise the TCP/IP protocol on
Intel-based servers to cut the processor's workload in half.
According to Intel, its approach will achieve at least a 30% faster
data exchange between the platform and applications, enabling the
processor to spend more time on other important computing
tasks.
Microsoft said it will support the new technology in forthcoming
Windows server operating systems. Microsoft will provide native
support for Intel I/OAT in future Windows Server releases. Those
releases will also include technology that balances network TCP/IP
traffic streams across multi-core CPUs, said Microsoft
"Our customers have been telling us that they want to have
better application response time on the Windows server platform,"
said Jawad Khaki, Microsoft corporate vice president for networking
and device technologies.
"Server application performance will be improved by enabling
Windows to take advantage of the faster data movement Intel I/OAT
provides. Also, by balancing network data streams across multiple
CPU cores, scalability of the Windows server platform will be
further enhanced,” said Khaki.
The first commercial appearance of the new I/O technology has so
far not been released by Intel.