XConn Technologies has announced its plan to provide the “first-ever” end-to-end demonstration of the Compute Express Link (CXL) 2.0 ecosystem, redefining the future of AI and high-performance computing (HPC). This “historic” announcement is set to happen on September 19–20 at the prestigious Intel Innovation event, which will be held at booth 229 at the San Jose Convention Center.
Viewers will be able to see the CXL 2.0 standard in action at the show, which has been called a step towards “next-generation connectivity technology.” The ability to upgrade memory to an astounding 15 TB is particularly noteworthy, as it targets the special needs of ‘Just a Bunch of Memory’ (JBOM) applications, which are essential to AI and HPC.
The Apollo Switch from XConn, a “cutting-edge” product that would seamlessly interface with other major industry players like the Samsung DRAM Memory Expander, Micron CZ120 memory expansion module, Montage Technology’s Memory eXpander Controller (MXC), and the high-speed CPU interconnect from Smart Modular Technologies, would be essential to this accomplishment.
With its functionality on a single 256-lane SoC, the XConn switch would accentuate its “state-of-the-art” status. It would ensure cost-effectiveness for enterprises while showcasing “industry-leading” low port-to-port latency and minimum power consumption per port.
XConn’s CEO, Gerry Fan, was very proud of the company’s accomplishment and said, “The XConn demo at Intel Innovation serves as a testament to the limitless potential of the CXL 2.0 specification.” He underlined how their Apollo migration would enable companies to take advantage of CXL 2.0 and satisfy the expectations of even the most memory-intensive HPC and AI applications, therefore transforming the industry.
‘Uniting a Network of CXL 2.0 Pioneers’
The Apollo switch would be unique not just because of its technological capabilities but also because of its versatility. Encapsulated inside a single chip, it provides system designers exceptional adaptability by supporting both CXL 1.1 and 2.0 as well as the PCIe Gen 5 requirements.
Jim Pappas, Director of Technology Initiatives at Intel Corporation, has acknowledged the significance of these developments, praising XConn’s contribution to the growing CXL ecosystem. In a similar vein, Samsung Electronics Vice President of the New Business Planning Team Jangseok (JS) Choi recognized that Samsung and XConn have collaborated to advance the industry’s use of CXL in real-world applications.
Industry titans such as Siva Makineni, Vice President of Micron’s Advanced Memory Systems, have testified about their partnership, highlighting the revolutionary effect that the XConn CXL 2.0 switch is expected to have on the future generation of computing.
The CXL Consortium’s President, Larrie Carr, expressed his enthusiasm over XConn’s accomplishment and pointed out how it successfully unites a vibrant network of CXL 2.0 pioneers.
The market now offers XConn‘s Apollo XC50256, which is compatible with both CXL 2.0 and its predecessor CXL 1.1, for individuals who are ready to experience this innovation. In addition, the Apollo is expected to be a crucial part of Intel Xeon processors in future JBOG and JBOA environments because to its support for PCIe Gen 5 mode, particularly for AI-centric applications.
