Data Center

Dell Joins Ultra Ethernet Consortium to Revolutionize AI Fabrics

Building high speed, high-capacity fabrics critical for future AI.
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Dell Technologies recently joined the Ultra Ethernet Consortium (UEC), marking our ongoing commitment to driving innovation in data center solutions. Our membership also aligns to our work in response to the growing challenges posed by the demands of artificial intelligence (AI). UEC, part of the Linux Foundation’s Joint Development Foundation, brings together companies for industry-wide cooperation to develop Ethernet specifications and software APIs that empower AI environments with next-level performance, scalability and interoperability. UEC is paving the way for seamless data exchange and computation in the digital realm.

Today’s generative AI (GenAI) workloads, in particular, require various forms of accelerated computing optimized for training and fine-tuning models. That’s why Dell is collaborating with industry leaders to design and develop large-scale Ethernet fabrics that can meet the performance needs of AI workloads.

The progress in GenAI and machine learning (ML) is driving the need for more capable and adaptable network infrastructures. AI workloads not only require increased bandwidth and reduced latency, but they are also adding incremental capabilities for the network, like telemetry and improved packet delivery with network congestion reduction. We are committed to meeting these requirements while further integrating Ethernet enhancements into Dell Technologies’ infrastructure.

UEC members are committed to enhancing modern networking protocols, ensuring they are tailored to handle the workloads of AI. UEC is developing specifications, interfaces and source code to enhance Ethernet-based communications, network transport protocols, congestion management mechanisms and more to improve AI and ML. Our goal at Dell is to provide an open, Ethernet-based, interoperable, high-performance, full-communications fabric architecture that will seamlessly meet the network demands of AI at scale. Joining UEC enables Dell to continue advocating for standards-based networking, promoting openness and innovation. Dell Technologies is uniquely positioned to realize the full potential of UEC by implementing it across the entire GenAI solution: compute, storage and fabric.

Demonstrating our commitment to driving innovation within the realm of data center solutions, Dell Technologies has taken a prominent role in championing SONiC, Software for Open Networking in the Cloud, for the AI fabric network operating system. SONiC, an open-source network operating system project hosted by the Linux Foundation, offers a cloud-inspired architecture aimed at delivering scalability, exceptional performance and reliability across network fabrics. Our endorsement of SONiC showcases Dell’s prowess in harnessing the system’s capabilities to meet the demands of AI workloads. This active engagement underscores Dell’s commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions that span compute, storage and networking, offering an end-to-end validated architecture for generative AI use cases.

UEC is hosting an orientation event at SuperComputing 2023 (SC23) in Denver, Colorado from November 13-16, 2023, where new members are announced and become formal members of the organization. Dell Technologies is an SC23 gold sponsor. Visit us in booth #625!

Learn more about Dell Generative AI Solutions here. You can also reach out to your Dell representative.

Ihab Tarazi

About the Author: Ihab Tarazi

Ihab Tarazi is the Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President at Dell Technologies, Infrastructure Solutions Group Core where he is responsible for technology strategy and next generation architecture for Compute, Storage and Network platforms including Edge, 5G and AI/HPC, as well as engagements with technology vendors and cloud ecosystems. Prior to this role, Mr. Tarazi served as Chief Technology Officer at Packet Host, Inc. (currently Equinix Metal), a leading bare metal cloud company built for developers, where he was responsible for the company's Product, Engineering and Technology. Prior to joining Packet, Mr. Tarazi held a number of positions in the telecom and infrastructure space, including Chief Technology Officer at data center and colocation provider Equinix, where he was responsible for developing the Equinix Cloud Exchange and strategic engagements with leading platforms in the Cloud, Security, Storage, Edge and IoT. Mr. Tarazi previously served as VP Engineering and Technology at Verizon, where he led a global team for the Engineering and Product Development of Global Enterprise Services including MPLS VPN, IP, Ethernet, Security and Managed Services. He has served as a member of the board of directors for NeoPhotonics Corp. since October 2015.  He is also a member of the board for Telecom Infrastructure Project (TIP). Mr. Tarazi holds a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications from the University of Maryland, and an M.S. in Telecommunications Management from Southern Methodist University.