The Deepening Partnership of Cisco and Nvidia: A Boost for AI Infrastructure

In an unprecedented move, technology giants Cisco and Nvidia have taken their partnership to new heights, offering integrated software and networking solutions that will greatly assist customers in building AI-based infrastructures with ease.

This collaboration signifies the joint strategy of both companies, with a primary focus on the development of Ethernet networks within enterprises dealing with AI workloads. Additionally, it grants Cisco and Nvidia access to their respective sales and support systems, enhancing their cooperation even further.

Cisco, in its announcement, revealed that it plans to sell Cisco Ethernet-based solutions that are specifically designed for Nvidia through its global distribution network. The company will also provide professional services and support through key partners dedicated to helping businesses implement GPU clusters using Ethernet infrastructure.

As for the specific products that will be available, the latest Nvidia Tensor Core GPUs will be integrated into Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) rack servers and blade systems, including the Cisco UCS X and UCS X Direct series. These products are tailored to handle AI workloads and efficiently manage large amounts of data in both data centers and network edge environments. The integrated package, set to be released in the second quarter, will include the Nvidia AI Enterprise software, which offers pre-trained models and developer tools designed for ready-to-use AI solutions.

Cisco also introduced Cisco Validated Design (CVD)-validated reference architectures, ensuring the seamless deployment and management of AI clusters across various applications and scales. These reference architectures encompass virtualized and containerized environments, providing flexibility in both converged and hyperconverged options. Customers can expect CVDs for FlexPod and FlashStack, specially designed for AI inferencing in conjunction with Nvidia AI Enterprise software, to be made available very soon.

Moreover, the integrated package will feature integrations with other Cisco software offerings. Notably, the support for Cisco’s ThousandEyes Digital Experience Monitoring software will enable AI-driven insights and automatic issue remediation between cloud and on-premises networks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

1. What are the goals of the collaboration and agreement between Cisco and Nvidia?
The collaboration aims to promote the use of Ethernet networks in AI workloads within enterprises. Their agreement focuses on providing integrated software and networking solutions that will assist customers in building AI-supportive infrastructures more easily.

2. What Cisco solutions will be specifically sold for Nvidia?
Cisco will sell Cisco Ethernet-based solutions, specifically designed for Nvidia, through its global distribution network. These offerings will include professional services and support provided by key partners.

3. Which Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) rack servers and blade systems will support the latest Nvidia Tensor Core GPUs?
The latest Nvidia Tensor Core GPUs will be integrated into Cisco UCS rack servers and blade systems, including the Cisco UCS X and UCS X Direct series. These products are optimized for AI workloads and efficient data management in data centers and network edge environments.

4. What software will be included in the integrated package?
The integrated package, set for release in the second quarter, will include the Nvidia AI Enterprise software, featuring pre-trained models and developer tools for ready-to-use AI solutions.

5. What are the benefits of Cisco Validated Design (CVD)-validated reference architectures?
CVD-validated reference architectures facilitate easy deployment and management of AI clusters across various applications and scales. This includes virtualized and containerized environments in both converged and hyperconverged options.

6. What integrations with other software are available in the integrated package?
The integrated package will also include integrations with other Cisco software, such as ThousandEyes Digital Experience Monitoring, which provides AI-driven insights and automatic issue remediation between cloud and on-premises networks.

Key Term Definitions:

– AI (Artificial Intelligence): The ability of computers and machines to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as image recognition, natural language understanding, decision-making, and learning.