Microchip Expands Data Center Portfolio to Meet Evolving AI Infrastructure Needs

Microchip Expands Data Center Portfolio to Meet Evolving AI Infrastructure Needs

— New Connectivity, Storage and Acceleration Solutions Help Address Performance, Security and Scalability Challenges of Modern Computing Architectures

As AI workloads drive demand for scalable, highly flexible data center architectures, organizations need faster, more efficient ways to move, store and protect data. To address this, Microchip Technology has expanded its data center solutions portfolio with new innovations spanning PCIe® connectivity, NVMe® storage and acceleration technologies to support high-performance computing infrastructure buildouts.

"Customers are looking for technology partners that can address multiple challenges across their entire infrastructure architecture while helping simplify design and accelerate deployment," said Brian McCarson, vice president and general manager of Microchip's Data Center Solutions business unit. "By continuously expanding our portfolio, we are delivering building blocks that help customers build more efficient, secure and flexible computing platforms to meet the demands of today's widely distributed, data-intensive computing environments."

The Switchtec™ PCIe 6.0 low lane count (LLC) switch is designed for space- and power-constrained platforms, offering up to 64 PCIe 6.0 lanes, 32 ports and flexible lane bifurcation in x2, x4, x8 and x16 configurations. The device integrates direct memory access (DMA) to support peer-to-peer data transfers between devices, reducing host CPU overhead. Like Microchip's larger Switchtec Gen 6 devices, the LLC switch features PCIe multicast and partitioning capabilities, and delivers high-level security protection backed by hardware root of trust and secure boot technology. This new device provides full PCIe Gen 6 performance in a smaller footprint and lower power envelope, enabling a broader range of data center and intelligent edge applications.

To meet industry demand for secure, scalable and AI-optimized storage infrastructure, Microchip has upgraded its Flashtec® SSD controller portfolio with the enhanced PCIe Gen 5 NVMe 5016 controller. The controller retains its high-performance, power-optimized hardware architecture while adding support for the Commercial National Security Algorithm Suite (CNSA) 2.0, helping customers address emerging post-quantum security requirements. The controller supports dual-port functionality, enabling high-availability storage architectures through redundant data paths and load balancing; advanced virtualization, quality of service (QoS) management and flexible programmability further help optimize system performance. These new capabilities extend the Flashtec platform's adaptability to next-generation NAND flash technologies and high-capacity SSD designs, supporting next-generation enterprise, hyperscale and AI deployment scenarios.

Microchip has further expanded the capabilities of its Adaptec® SmartRAID 4300 series NVMe RAID storage accelerators with a range of enhancements addressing real-world operational requirements. The update focuses on strengthening storage security, reducing system downtime, improving data protection and simplifying deployment across diverse application environments.

New support for self-encrypting drives (SEDs) with local and remote key management, along with RAID 6 and RAID 60 configuration options, further enhances system reliability and security. With support for Linux®, Debian, Ubuntu® and Microsoft® Windows® 11 operating system environments, the series enables broader platform compatibility. Additionally, dynamic NVMe configuration supports online service management, persistent event logging and point-to-point rebuild capability, further reducing CPU load and minimizing service interruptions to lower storage management complexity. StorageCore API support further enhances integration flexibility, enabling customers to integrate SmartRAID management capabilities into third-party tools through in-band host applications and customized out-of-band BMC management frameworks.

These latest products reflect Microchip's ongoing commitment to advancing performance, availability, and security for next-generation computing platforms. Visit the official website to learn more about Microchip's complete data center solutions portfolio.

Microchip's data center portfolio is complemented by a suite of development and management tools, including ChipLink software for PCIe switch configuration, status diagnostics, telemetry collection, and debugging. It also offers device monitoring, configuration, and firmware management software, Flashtec NVMe controller development resources, and Adaptec storage management software.

Pricing and availability vary by device. Please contact your Microchip sales representative or worldwide authorized distributor for details.

About Microchip Technology Inc.

Microchip Technology Inc. is a provider of a rich portfolio of semiconductor products, dedicated to making innovative designs easier through complete system-level solutions that help customers address key challenges in bringing emerging technologies to mature markets. The company offers easy-to-use development tools and a broad product portfolio to support customers throughout the entire design process, from concept to final implementation. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, USA, Microchip continues to deliver solutions for industrial, automotive, consumer, aerospace and defense, communications, and computing markets backed by exceptional technical support. For more information, visit the company website at www.microchip.com.