HighPoint Claims Industry 1st with 8-Channel PCIe Gen5 x16 NVMe Switch & RAID

Gen5 storage up to 56GB/s

What happens when you put Broadcom’s 48-lane, 48-port, PCI Express Gen 5.0 ExpressFabric Platform (PEX89048) on a PCI Express card with multiple M.2 slots? You get the RocketRAID 7600 and Rocket 1600 series from HighPoint Technologies, capable of speeds up to 56 GB/s.

“HighPoint’s Rocket 7600 and Rocket 1600 Gen5 NVMe Switch & RAID AIC/Adapter series incorporates Broadcom’s state-of-the-art PCIe Switching technology to fully utilize x16 lanes of Gen5 host bandwidth, direct from the CPU. This unique architecture enables each AIC/Adapter to maximize transfer performance for up to 8 independent device channels, minimize latency, facilitate consistent, robust I/O throughput, and support as many as 32 NVMe devices via backplane connectivity.”

With support for up to 8x Gen5 M.2 NVMe SSDs, this can provide a serious amount of insanely fast storage from one PCI Express card. We don’t have pricing yet, and HighPoint has not provided a hard release date, stating that their “PCIe Gen5 NVMe AICs will begin shipping in Q3 2024, and will be available worldwide, direct from our E-Store and our Authorized Global Resale and Distribution partners”.

The full press release is reproduced below:

HighPoint Unveils the Industry’s 1st PCIe Gen5 x16 NVMe Switch and RAID AIC / Adapter Series Powered By Broadcom’s PEX89048

April 2024, Fremont, CA – HighPoint has unveiled the industry’s first 8-Channel PCIe Gen5 x16 NVMe Switch and NVMe RAID Product Lines powered by Broadcom’s PEX89048 IC.
Designed to accommodate today’s most demanding, data-intensive applications, RocketRAID 7600 and Rocket 1600 NVMe Switch & RAID AIC/Adapter series incorporate Broadcom’s state-of-the-art Gen5 PCIe Switching technology to fully utilize x16 lanes of Gen5 host bandwidth, direct from the CPU, across all Intel and AMD Desktop, Workstation and Server platforms. This unique architecture enables each AIC/Adapter to maximize transfer performance for up to 8 independent device channels, and support as many as 32 NVMe devices via backplane connectivity.

While HighPoint Gen5 NVMe solutions are capable of delivering and astonishing level of transfer throughput; up to 64GB/s of bandwidth from via single PCIe slot, their value and utility extend far beyond raw storage performance. The highly advanced NVMe AIC and Adapter solutions are empowered by an array of new DC and Server grade management and pro-active monitoring features designed to extend the lifespan of hosted NVMe storage media, maintain optimal data transfer rates, and enhance the overall efficiency of server and datacenter operations.

48 Lanes of Dedicated PCIe Gen5 Bandwidth

HighPoint PCIe Gen5 NVMe AICs high-performance switching architecture integrates Broadcom’s 48-Channel PEX89048 switch IC to provide x16 lanes of dedicated PCIe Gen5 upstream bandwidth, and ensures x4 lanes of downstream bandwidth are available for each NVMe device channel. The innovative hardware architecture enables our Gen5 NVMe product series to deliver up to 64GB/s of transfer bandwidth, minimize latency, facilitate consistent, robust I/O throughput, and support as many as 32 NVMe devices via backplane connectivity.

Our PCIe Gen5 and Gen4 Switching Architecture employs a technique known as a “Synthetic Hierarchy” to isolate the host system’s operating system from any PCIe topology changes (physical changes). This enables the AIC/Adapter to directly manage resource allocation to the downstream PCIe channels and provide true Hot-Swap /Hot-Plug capability by facilitating a more efficient interaction between the host CPU and PCIe switch.

Engineered to Enhance the Efficiency and Serviceability of Datacenter and Server Applications

HighPoint PCIe Gen5 NVMe AICs/adapters are engineered to address the demands of Datacenters and Edge Server platforms, and incorporate a wide range of features designed to enhance the efficiency of day-to-day operations, and streamline maintenance and service workflows.

First and foremost, HighPoint Gen5 NVMe AIC’s have been built to the highest standards of quality reliability, and are fully compliant with PCIe Card Electromechanical (CEM) specifications. The PCB benefits from high heat resistance and superior electrical characteristics, which are essential for a high-performance NVMe solution. In addition, the AICs/adapters are fully compliant with the LP-MD2 (Low-Profile) specifications, and can be easily integrated into any industry standard PC-based computing platform.

Rocket 1600 and 7600 series AICs/adapters are field replaceable units (FRU); the VPD stored on each controller enables customers and 3rd party service providers to easily procure replacements with the correct firmware/driver combination.

Importantly, all Rocket 1600 and 7600 series AICS feature OOB (out-of-band) management capability; an essential component of datacenter server infrastructure. BMC and MCTP over PCIe enables administrators and service technicians to securely interface with the NVMe AIC without the need for internet access. The service is scalable and can be used to administrate multiple servers via Linux command prompts to manage storage in both Pre-OS and OS-level environments.

Rocket 1600 PCIe Gen5 NVMe Switch Series AICs & Adapters

HighPoint Rocket 1600 series switch AICs/adapters provide enterprise-class NVMe storage connectivity and administrative capability and are suitable for use with a wide range of industry-standard x86 server and workstation platforms. These versatile, high-performance AICs and Adapters are equipped with our revolutionary PCIE Gen5 Switch Architecture and are capable of directly supporting up to eight M.2, U.2/U.3 or E3.S SSDs, or as many as 32 NVMe devices via backplane connectivity.

NVMe media hosted by Rocket 1600 Switch AIC/Adapters will be automatically recognized by any OS platform with Native NVMe driver support. This makes them an ideal for businesses and organizations seeking to enhance critical workflows with flexible, robust and easily managed Gen5 NVMe storage performance.

Rocket 7600 PCIe Gen5 NVMe RAID Series AICs & Adapters

HighPoint RocketRAID 7600 PCIe Gen5 NVMe RAID AICs and Adapters are engineered to enhance the capabilities of Linux and Windows-based Edge Server and High-End workstation platforms. Built on the foundation of our Rocket 1600 Switch series product lines, each RAID AICs/Adapter is armed with industry proven RAID technology and an unparalleled storage health monitoring and management suite designed to maximize the performance, reliability and serviceability of NVMe arrays.

Rocket 7600 Series AICs/Adapters can directly support up to eight M.2 or U.2/U.3/E3.S NVMe SSDs, and are ideal for professional and industrial workflows that require uncompromised Storage Performance with the flexibility of proven RAID technology and enhanced SED data protection.

To Learn More about HighPoint’s Gen5 Product Lines please visit: https://www.highpoint-tech.com/gen5

Shipping & Availability
HighPoint’s PCIe Gen5 NVMe AICs will begin shipping in Q3 2024, and will be available worldwide, direct from our E-Store and our Authorized Global Resale and Distribution partners.

HighPoint PCIe Gen5 & 2nd Gen PCIe Gen4 NVMe product Lines

NVMe Switch Series

• Rocket 1628A – PCIe Gen5 x16 to 4-MCIOx8 NVMe Switch Adapter
• Rocket 1608A – PCIe Gen5 x16 to 8-M.2×4 NVMe Switch AIC
• Rocket 1528D – PCIe Gen4 x16 to 4-SlimSASx8 NVMe Switch Adapter

NVMe RAID Series

• Rocket 7628A – PCIe Gen5 x16 to 4-MCIOx8 NVMe RAID Adapter
• Rocket 7608A – PCIe Gen5 x16 to 8-M.2×4 NVMe RAID AIC
• Rocket 7528D – PCIe Gen4 x16 to 4-SlimSASx8 NVMe RAID Adapter