Intel joins Google Cloud to create an end-to-end programmable platform

     Google Cloud's announcement of the successful deployment of the new C3 machine family of virtual machines, which leverages the combined strengths of Intel's software and hardware offerings, is an important milestone in building an end-to-end programmable platform. This private preview of Google's Cloud C3 machine line of virtual machines features a fourth-generation Intel Xeon expandable processor and a new Intel  Infrastructure Processor (IPU) E2000, designed in conjunction with Intel.

     Thanks to its unique architectural approach, C3 machine instances achieve performance improvements of up to 20% over the previous generation of C2 instances, effectively supporting data-intensive workloads. The Google Cloud C3 virtual machine also lays the foundation for future infrastructure processor (IPUs) integration into the data center to dramatically improve performance while accelerating cloud infrastructure construction.

     "We are excited to work with Google Cloud to design the first ASIC infrastructure processor, which is already being used successfully in the new C3 line of machines," said Nick McKeown, Intel Senior vice president, Intel Fellow and general manager of the Network and Edge Group. A first in the public cloud, the C3 virtual machine will run workloads based on fourth-generation Intel Xeon scalable processors, while securely releasing programmable packet processing tasks to the IPUs at a line rate of 200 GB/s. Through this partnership with Google, customers will be able to enjoy a more secure, flexible and capable infrastructure."