Western Digital, Ingrasys partner to advance high-performance disaggregated storage for AI

The Western Digital-Ingrasys partnership aims to accelerate disaggregated storage adoption for AI, combining GPU server expertise and NVMe-oF innovation to deliver high-performance, scalable infrastructure that meets rising data demands with greater efficiency and agility

Western Digital and Ingrasys, a subsidiary of Foxconn Technology Group, have formed a strategic collaboration to develop a next-generation Top-of-Rack (TOR) switch with embedded storage capabilities. This new TOR Ethernet Bunch of Flash (EBOF) device is designed to bring distributed storage closer to the network edge, significantly lowering latency and reducing reliance on centralized storage systems.

Ingrasys will handle the manufacturing of this high-density switch, integrating Western Digital’s advanced RapidFlex NVMe-oF bridge technology. Western Digital will also lead the go-to-market efforts, targeting cloud service providers (CSPs) and storage OEMs looking for scalable, fabric-attached storage solutions.

The partnership is timely, aligning with the rising data demands of AI workflows and the need for more efficient data infrastructure. The Ingrasys TOR EBOF aims to accelerate the adoption of disaggregated storage architectures, which separate compute and storage resources for enhanced flexibility and scalability. Combining Ingrasys’ expertise in GPU servers and manufacturing with Western Digital’s leadership in NVMe-over-Fabrics (NVMe-oF), the solution promises improved performance, efficiency, and data center agility.

Expected to launch in 2027, the TOR switch will feature embedded NVMe/PCIe Gen6 SSD support, powered by Western Digital’s next-gen RapidFlex device and NVIDIA’s Spectrum-4 switch ASIC. It will offer 100G Ethernet and flexible 400/800GbE connectivity, addressing future-proof storage demands in AI-driven data centers.

“Together with Ingrasys, we continue to accelerate the shift toward disaggregated infrastructure by co-developing cutting-edge, fabric-attached solutions designed for the data demands of AI and modern workloads. This collaboration brings together two leaders in storage infrastructure modernization to deliver flexible, scalable architectures that unlock new levels of efficiency and performance for our customers,” said Kurt Chan, vice president and general manager, Western Digital Platforms Business.

“Our collaboration with Western Digital reflects a shared commitment to long-term innovation and customer-centric design. By combining our expertise in scalable system integration with Western Digital’s leadership in storage technologies, we’re building a foundation for future-ready, fabric-attached solutions that will meet the evolving demands of AI and disaggregated infrastructure. This partnership is just the beginning of what we believe will be a lasting journey of co-innovation,” said Benjamin Ting, president of Ingrasys.

“The collaboration between Western Digital and Ingrasys brings together the high-performance storage and scalable system transformation needed to fully unlock the potential of accelerated computing. As AI and data-intensive workloads push infrastructure limits, this joint effort is set to deliver the performance, low latency, and disaggregated scalability that next-generation data centers require,” said Gilad Shainer, senior vice president of networking at NVIDIA.