Intel discontinues second-generation Omni-Path interconnect designed for HPC and AI workloads.

Intel has halted plans for a second-generation version of its Omni-Path Architecture that would have provided a low-latency, 200-Gbps interconnect for server clusters running high-performance computing and artificial intelligence workloads. Jennifer Huffstetler, vice president and general manager of data center product management and storage, confirmed that the second-generation Omni-Path fabric, also known as the OPA 200 series, is no longer on the company's road map. Intel continues to sell, support and maintain the first-generation fabric, the OPA 100 series. According to solution providers who spoke with CRN, the company has informed some partners of the OPA 200's cancellation and the OPA 100's change in availability, with Intel now producing OPA 100 parts on a build-to-order basis.

Intel is pivoting its connectivity investments toward other technology areas. Huffstetler stated, "We see connectivity as a critical pillar in delivering the performance and scalability for a modern data center. We're continuing our investment there while we will no longer support the Omni-Path 200." The company is making further investments in its connectivity portfolio, which includes Ethernet and silicon photonics products, most recently with the acquisition of network programmability specialist Barefoot Networks. When asked about eventual replacement products, Huffstetler said the company is "evaluating options for extending the capabilities for high-performance Ethernet switches that we can expand the ability to meet the growing needs of HPC and AI."

The cancellation comes as Intel faces significant competitive pressure from Mellanox, the 20-year-old interconnect vendor that GPU powerhouse Nvidia is in the process of acquiring for $6.9 billion. Mellanox began shipping its 200-Gbps HDR InfiniBand interconnect offering earlier this year and has already unveiled plans for a 400-Gbps version. Intel had reportedly sought to acquire Mellanox before Nvidia disclosed in March that it was making the acquisition. One solution provider told CRN that this gives Mellanox a decisive market advantage, saying "[Mellanox] is going to pretty much have the market to themselves," and noting that Mellanox's InfiniBand products are more widely deployed than Omni-Path.

Channel partners expressed concern about the strategic implications of the cancellation. One anonymous Intel partner stated, "If there's not a road map, it wouldn't make sense to commit down Omni-Path's route. It's a one-trick pony, so to speak." Intel's U.S. distributors for Omni-Path—Arrow, ASI, Avnet, Ingram Micro, Synnex and Tech Data—face uncertainty about future product development. Scott Hamilton, an HPC solution architect at Atos North America, noted that while Atos is largely a Mellanox shop for interconnects, Intel had provided deep discounts on Omni-Path for the handful of customers using it. However, Hamilton said that in terms of application performance and system performance, "we have not seen a large differentiating factor between Mellanox and Omni-Path." Some partners have been discouraged from planning new designs with the OPA 100 series due to concerns that its build-to-order status will result in long lead times and delays.