Microchip Unveils PCIe Gen 6 and NVMe Devices for Data Centers

Microchip Technology Inc. has expanded its data center portfolio with new connectivity, storage, and acceleration capabilities designed to meet the performance, security, and scalability needs of AI infrastructure. The additions include PCIe Gen 6 switching, enhanced PCIe Gen 5 NVMe SSD controllers, and updates to the Adaptec SmartRAID 4300 family of NVMe RAID storage accelerators, targeting enterprise, hyperscale, and intelligent edge applications.

The new Switchtec PCIe 6.0 low-lane-count (LLC) switch brings high-speed connectivity to platforms with limited board space and power budgets. It supports up to 64 PCIe Gen 6 lanes and 32 ports, with flexible x2, x4, x8, and x16 bifurcation options. Integrated direct memory access (DMA) enables peer-to-peer data transfers between connected devices, reducing host CPU involvement and associated processing overhead. The switch also incorporates PCIe Multicast, partitioning, a hardware root of trust, and secure boot. These features provide connectivity, resource allocation, and security capabilities for data center and intelligent edge systems.

Microchip has also enhanced its Flashtec PCIe Gen 5 NVMe 5016 SSD controller to support the Commercial National Security Algorithm Suite (CNSA) 2.0, addressing emerging post-quantum cryptography security requirements. The controller retains its power-optimized architecture and adds capabilities intended to support high-availability storage and evolving SSD designs. Dual-port connectivity provides redundant data paths and supports load balancing, while virtualization, quality-of-service (QoS) management and programmable functionality help optimize performance across demanding enterprise, hyperscale, and AI workloads.

The Adaptec SmartRAID 4300 family receives further updates focused on storage security, availability, and operational flexibility. New capabilities include support for self-encrypting drives with local and remote key management, plus RAID 6 and RAID 60 configurations for stronger data protection. Compatibility extends to Linux, Debian, Ubuntu, and Microsoft Windows 11 environments.

Additional features include dynamic NVMe configuration for in-service management, persistent event logging, and peer-to-peer rebuild operations that reduce CPU overhead. StorageCore API support enables integration with third-party management tools through in-band host applications and customized out-of-band baseboard management controller (BMC) frameworks.

The expanded portfolio is supported by development and management tools, including ChipLink software for PCIe switch configuration, diagnostics, telemetry, and debugging, along with Flashtec development resources and Adaptec storage management software.

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