NVIDIA has announced NVLINK Fusion in mid -May as an initiative to open its technology and allow partner companies to have more flexibility in creating customized data centers and servers. However, restrictions on the practical use of the program have appeared and frustrated some of these companies, according to rumors.
NVLINK Fusion requires third parties to integrate their custom chips with some Nvidia product. That is, a CPU has to use the NVLINK interface to connect with a NVIDIA GPU, not being able to take advantage of the feature with a component from another company.
Thus, it is not possible to mix and create independent hybrid solutions. In addition, NVLINK Fusion requires third party hardware to pay for licensing to use Nvlink Switch chips.
The information comes from Digitimes, who spoke to people in company using the technology. According to the site, Nvidia still maintains closed control of the essential communications controller and PHY layers in NVLINK FUSION, further restricting the customization level your partners can use with the interface.
Also according to the site, at least eight companies showed interest in the NVLINK Fusion, and all were properly informed of the operation and restrictions of the program before starting to use it.
However, frustrations and limitations of trying to use the resource in practice would be resulting in less optimized and efficient designs. Still, AWS, GCP and Azure should continue to work with Fusion.
Ualink has the chance to stand out
Frustration with NVLink Fusion can be an opportunity to draw attention to Ualink, an actually open interface for accelerator interconnection. Companies such as AMD, Intel and Google are part of the Ualink consortium, which published technology specification 1.0 in April this year.
Certainly it will still take years of development for Ualink to face NVLINK in terms of performance, but attracting more interest is the first step to this advance.
Related News:
According to Rumors, the new generation of AMD GPUS Instinct of the Mi400X series should already arrive compatible with Ualink.
Via: TechPowerUp
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Source: https://www.adrenaline.com.br/nvidia/nvlink-fusion-da-nvidia-nao-e-tao-aberto-quanto-parecia-e-tem-gerado-frustracao-rumor/
