Microchip Expands Data Center Portfolio With PCIe Gen 6 Switch, Quantum-Ready SSD Controller and SmartRAID Upgrades

Microchip Technology announced an expansion of its data center solutions portfolio, adding new innovations in PCIe connectivity, NVMe storage, and acceleration aimed at high-performance computing infrastructure.

The Chandler, Arizona-based company said the move responds to AI workloads driving demand for more scalable and flexible data center architectures, as organizations seek faster and more efficient ways to move, store, and protect data.

Innovative Solutions for Next-Gen Data Centers

"Customers are looking for technology partners that can address multiple challenges across the infrastructure stack while helping simplify design and accelerate deployment," said Brian McCarson, corporate vice president and GM of Microchip's data center solutions business unit.

"By continuing to expand our portfolio, we're providing the building blocks needed to create more efficient, secure, and adaptable platforms for today's increasingly distributed and data-intensive computing environments."

Switchtec PCIe 6.0 Low-Lane-Count Switch for Constrained Platforms

The new Switchtec PCIe 6.0 Low-Lane-Count (LLC) switch is designed to bring PCIe Gen 6 connectivity to space- and power-constrained platforms. It provides up to 64 PCIe Gen 6 lanes, 32 ports, and flexible x2, x4, x8, and x16 bifurcation options.

Integrated Direct Memory Access (DMA) supports efficient peer-to-peer data movement between connected devices while reducing host CPU involvement.

Like Microchip's larger Switchtec Gen 6 devices, the LLC switch features PCIe Multicast and partitioning capabilities, along with security through hardware root of trust and secure boot technologies.

According to the company, the device delivers PCIe Gen 6 capabilities with a smaller, lower power footprint, extending support to a broader range of data center and intelligent edge applications.

Flashtec 5016 Controller Updated With CNSA 2.0 Support

Microchip is also updating its Flashtec SSD controller portfolio with an enhanced version of the PCIe Gen 5 NVMe 5016 controller.

Building on the controller's high-performance, power-optimized architecture, the updated device adds support for Commercial National Security Algorithm Suite (CNSA) 2.0, which the company says helps customers prepare for emerging post-quantum security requirements.

Dual-port capability enables highly available storage architectures through redundant data paths and load balancing, while advanced virtualization, Quality of Service (QoS) management, and flexible programmability help optimize performance.

Microchip said these enhancements extend the Flashtec platform's ability to address evolving NAND technologies, high-capacity SSD designs, and next-generation enterprise, hyperscale, and AI deployments.

Adaptec SmartRAID 4300 Gains Security and Resiliency Updates

The company is expanding the capabilities of its Adaptec SmartRAID 4300 family of NVMe RAID storage accelerators with a series of enhancements focused on strengthening storage security, minimizing downtime, expanding data protection, and simplifying deployment.

The updates add self-encrypting drives with both local and remote key management and RAID 6 and RAID 60 options for increased resiliency and security. Broader platform compatibility comes through support for Linux, Debian, Ubuntu, and Microsoft Windows 11 environments.

Additional updates include dynamic NVMe configuration for in-service management, persistent event logging, and peer-to-peer rebuild support for greater CPU offload, which Microchip says help reduce management overhead while minimizing service disruption.

StorageCore API support further expands integration flexibility, enabling customers to incorporate SmartRAID management into third-party tools through in-band host applications as well as customized out-of-band BMC management frameworks.

Development Tools and Availability

The data center portfolio is supported by a suite of development and management tools, including ChipLink software for configuration, diagnostics, telemetry, and debugging of PCIe switches.

Additional support includes software for device monitoring, configuration and firmware management, Flashtec NVMe controller development resources, and Adaptec storage management software.

Pricing and availability vary by device; customers are directed to contact a Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor for more information.

Microchip characterized the latest additions as reflecting its ongoing commitment to advancing the performance, availability, and security of next-generation computing platforms.