Intel is acquiring Fulcrum Microsystems, a developer of interconnect chips leveraged by ethernet switches, such as those from Arista Networks, IBM System Networking (Blade Network Technologies, as was) and Mellanox. While Intel’s big play is all about data centre fabrics and cloud computing, the impact on low-latency networking for the financial markets is clear, given Fulcrum’s customers.
“Fulcrum Microsystems has architecture capabilities ideal for low-latency applications, and we are excited about the future possibilities of this technology as Fulcrum is acquired by Intel,” says Arista’s founder, chief development officer and chairman Andy Bechtolsheim.
Intel isn’t saying how much it’s paying for privately-held Fulcrum, which was founded in 1999. Back in 2008, Intel acquired NetEffect for its ethernet NIC technologies, which support kernel bypass communications. With the Fulcrum buy, the microprocessor giant is adding further to its low-latency platform arsenal.
