Arista Networks doesn't get the attention it deserves, but the stock has outperformed both Nvidia and Cisco this year.
Arista Networks doesn't get the attention it deserves, but the stock has outperformed both Nvidia and Cisco this year.
When investors think about artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, Nvidia is often at the top of the list. Nvidia has become the world's largest company thanks to its vaunted graphics processing units (GPUs), which are considered indispensable for training and running AI models.
Another side of the coin is Cisco Systems, a blue chip tech company that makes switches, routers, and other equipment that moves information through data centers.
But there's another company that deserves attention: Arista Networks (ANET -5.04%). And while it may not attract the same attention as Nvidia, Arista is becoming a core AI infrastructure play by helping solve one of the biggest challenges facing data centers.
What does Arista Networks do?
AI data centers rely on thousands of graphics processing units (GPUs) working together to train and run complex artificial intelligence models. But all that computing power doesn't mean much if the processors can't communicate quickly enough. Massive amounts of data need to move between chips, servers, and storage systems, and slow connections can create bottlenecks that drag down the entire operation.
Arista's role is to make high-speed Ethernet switches that direct traffic through data centers, ensuring information gets where it needs to go without slowing everything down. Arista also develops networking software, including its Extensible Operating System (EOS), that helps operators manage those connections and keep their networks running efficiently.
As AI models become larger and more demanding, data centers need faster connections to keep those expensive GPUs working -- after all, having the most powerful processors is a waste of money if the underlying infrastructure doesn't allow them to work to capacity. And that's exactly the problem Arista is helping its customers solve.
In June, Arista introduced its 7060XE7 Series, a new generation of Ethernet networking equipment designed for AI infrastructure. The systems support connections running at 1.6 terabits per second, with up to approximately 100 terabits per second of total system bandwidth. Arista also says its support for linear pluggable optics can reduce interconnect power consumption by approximately 60% compared with traditional pluggable optics.
That's an important consideration for data center operators already dealing with enormous electricity demands. Faster networking is valuable, but reducing the power required to move information can also help control operating expenses.
Averytin News Financial update.