By Siobhan Kennedy
IBM Corp, Compaq Computer Corp and Hewlett-Packard Co have lifted the lid on their next generation joint I/O server architecture called Future I/O, in a move that threatens to create serious divisions over the implementation of future standards. The announcement came as expected (CI No 3,572) on Tuesday with the surprise addition of Adaptec as part of the group. Up until now, the move has been seen as an combined IBM, Compaq and HP venture, designed to challenge Intel by developing technology to enable vendors to decrease their dependency on the Wintel platform. Intel, alongwith a series of partners, has already proposed its own future I/O spec, called NGIO (Next Generation Input/Output), but IBM and its partners believe the chip giant’s architecture is designed to suppress innovation. Tom Bradicich, IBM’s director of architecture and technology for its Netfinity line of servers, said the main thrust behind the development of the standard was to produce a future architecture that would encompass technology that demonstrated an intimacy with customer needs, but exactly what needs he didn’t say. He said the news marked the coming together of those companies with the largest server market share and a deep, rich knowledge of I/O server architecture for enterprise environments. The ultimate aim, he said, is to create a pervasive and open standard, adding that more details would be announced at an upcoming developers conference in Monterey, California on February 11 and 12. Referring to the fact that users will now have two I/O specs to choose from, Karl Walker, VP of technological development with Compaq said the group was trying to avoid it being an either/or discussion. He said the Future I/O spec differed from Intel’s NGIO by focusing on meeting the needs of customers now and in the future. He added that he couldn’t speak specifically about Intel’s technology other than to say it was a little shortsighted. The executives said they expected to announce a series of new partnerships over the coming weeks, although neither would say whether or not they hoped to entice members from Intel’s forum, which includes such heavyweights as Sun, Dell and NEC.
Intel reaction
A spokesperson for Intel said the chip maker was disappointed with the group’s announcement. We thought we’d see more. How can they claim their technology is superior if they’re not prepared to talk more about it? He said that the best way to develop a truly open standard was to include as many people as possible and distribute the specification on a royalty fee basis. How can simply saying that combining those companies with a large market share in the server industry guarantees openness? But despite the criticisms, the spokesperson added that Intel’s NGIO forum still had openings left on its steering committee, and that Compaq, IBM or HP would be welcome to join, adding that Adaptec had already announced its support for the NGIO specification. But he dismissed any idea that Intel would ditch its architecture and go with Future I/O instead. With two specifications to chose from, the losers will be the vendors who have to develop products compatible with both or choose one over the other, he said, our biggest problem remains their proposed business plan to charge a royalty fee to use the specification.
