Synopsys Launches Ultra Ethernet and UALink IP Solutions for AI Clusters

2024-12-11 industry

Mountain View, Wednesday, 11 December 2024.
Synopsys introduces new IP solutions enabling up to one million nodes with 1,024 AI accelerators, enhancing connectivity in AI infrastructure with 1.6 Tbps bandwidth.

Revolutionary Connectivity Solutions

In a significant development for AI infrastructure, Synopsys unveiled its groundbreaking Ultra Ethernet and UALink IP solutions on December 10, 2024 [1][2][3]. These innovations arrive at a crucial time, as the AI infrastructure market is projected to grow from USD 135.81 billion in 2024 to USD 394.46 billion by 2030 [5]. The new IP solutions offer unprecedented scaling capabilities, with Ultra Ethernet enabling up to 1.6 Tbps bandwidth to connect one million endpoints, while UALink IP delivers up to 200 Gbps throughput per lane for up to 1,024 AI accelerators [1][2].

Technical Specifications and Infrastructure Impact

The Ultra Ethernet IP solution incorporates advanced features including a 224-G Ethernet physical layer, PHY, MAC, and PCS controller with patented error correction [2]. According to Ron Lowman, Synopsys’ principal HPC IP product manager, ‘UALink scales the networks up for a local network,’ [2] addressing the critical need for efficient AI compute scaling. This development is particularly timely, as recent industry research indicates that 79% of organizations currently lack sufficient computing infrastructure for AI workloads [6].

Industry Collaboration and Market Response

The initiative has garnered support from major industry players, with AMD, Astera Labs, Juniper Networks, Tenstorrent, and XConn joining as collaborating partners [1][3]. Neeraj Paliwal, Senior VP of IP Product Management at Synopsys, emphasized the significance: ‘With the industry’s first Ultra Ethernet and UALink IP, companies can get a head start on developing a new generation of high-performance chips and systems’ [1]. The solutions build upon Synopsys’ proven track record, with over 5,000 successful customer tapeouts using their existing Ethernet and PCIe IP [1].

Future Availability and Market Implications

Synopsys has announced a staged rollout of these solutions, with Ultra Ethernet IP scheduled for availability in the first half of 2025, followed by UALink IP in the second half of 2025 [1][3]. This timing aligns with the industry’s urgent need for enhanced AI infrastructure, as 98% of organizations acknowledge increased pressure to adopt AI technologies [6]. The solutions are positioned to address the growing demands of AI workloads, particularly as companies aim to demonstrate AI’s business impact within the next 18 months [6].

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