I₂O INITIATIVE

The I₂O initiative defines a particular approach to intelligent input/output (I/O). This effort, undertaken by computer industry leaders through the formation of the I₂O SIG_, defines a standard messaging language for intelligent I/O devices. An I₂O device uses a standard set of messages, regardless of operating system, and device being controlled.

The I₂O SIG

The I₂O Special Interest Group (SIG) was formed by a group of leading enterprise computing vendors to define and promote a technical specification as a standard interface for high-performance I/O systems. The organization was formally constituted and announced in January 1996. As of July 1997, the membership has grown to over 110 companies from three continents.

The I₂O SIG membership represents a broad spectrum of system, network and peripheral interface card, operating system vendors, and independent software and tools vendors. The specifications they develop will be used to simplify the task of building and maintaining high-performance I/O subsystems.

Compaq's History with Industry Standards and Intelligent I/O

• Compaq has delivered the benefits of industry leading intelligent I/O adaptors for server products since 1989.
• Compaq has a long history of leading and supporting I/O industry standards:
• Leadership of the EISA "gang of nine"
• Founding member of PCI steering committee.
• Workgroup chairperson for PCI Hot Plug
• Original member, I₂O steering committee

Compaq's Involvement with I₂O

• Compaq has taken a leading role in helping to develop the new I₂O standard.
• Compaq was actively involved with the definition of the 1.0 and 1.5 I₂O specification.
• Chairperson of the I₂O SIG's - PCI Hot Plug working group.
• Leadership of the I₂O SIG's Peer to Peer working group.
• Active involvement in the I₂O SIG's Compliance, Marketing, and Public Relations working groups.

The I₂O Customer Value Add

• More consistent OS support.
• Shorter time to market for new products, because of reduction in number of drivers needed, means lower product costs.
• The customer will always have the right OS pieces (Driver stability).
• Lower CPU overhead, leading to overall system performance improvements.
• New technologies - peer to peer, etc

Compaq's Position on I₂O

• Compaq believes in providing investment protection for our Enterprise class customers. Today we are releasing servers that are I₂O ready, so that users will be able to take advantage of this emerging technology when Compaq and third party companies release standards based I₂O products. Compaq's I₂O solutions will continue to be implemented in an optional, scalable, and upgradeable manner to meet individual customer needs. Compaq has played a leading role in developing numerous industry standards and has been delivering high performance intelligent I/O devices since 1989. Compaq is applying this expertise as an active member of the I₂O SIG steering committee, which is composed of industry leading hardware and software companies.