Barefoot Networks that was launched three years ago, and it was all set to transform the generation of computing for major enterprises like Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon. It was set to disrupt the chip manufacturers like Intel and networking companies like Cisco. Intel had not taken a major notice but now has acquired the Barefoot Networks for an undisclosed amount. It’s a growing sign that how cloud computing is being developed in one of the top technologies sought by the businesses today; it’s an opportunity for Intel to stake more of claim in the networking space after losing the ground to GPU manufacturers. What makes barefoot networks unique is the ability for the chips to allow its customers to program whatever functionality they need on to the networking chips that Barefoot sells them.
Enterprises earlier had to customize the network architecture for everything but couldn’t do it for the chipset. The lack of programmable chips meant that network architecture couldn’t be quite responsive as a company like Facebook, Google, or Microsoft would want. Most of the major giants usually work on the cheap sets that specifically designed for specific functions.
Barefoot Networks was launched from stealth in late 2016 by a former Stanford IUniversity professor Dr. Craig Barratt whose work had been critical to the development of network architecture that allowed enterprises to operate at the massive scale they now have. All these companies demand an improved level of hardware that is customized, ranging from chipsets to enable various machine learning algorithms to manage and monitor content. With the acquisition, Intel is all set to provide knowledge around the P4-programmable high-speed data paths, P4 compilers, drivers software, switch silicon development, computational networking, and added network telemetry. The acquisition is all set to put forth Intel in the set complicated market of the networking domain; it is also set to provide the chip maker with another level buffer against the competitors.
