Microchip Expands Data Center Portfolio to Meet Evolving AI Infrastructure Demands

Microchip Technology (MCHP) is expanding its data center portfolio with new connectivity products and updates to storage controllers and accelerators.

Rhea-AI Summary

Microchip Technology (MCHP) is expanding its data center portfolio with new connectivity products and updates to storage controllers and accelerators.

The additions include a Switchtec PCIe 6.0 Low-Lane-Count switch for space- and power-constrained platforms and an enhanced Flashtec NVMe 5016 controller supporting Commercial National Security Algorithm Suite 2.0 to help customers prepare for post-quantum security requirements. Updates to the Adaptec SmartRAID 4300 family add self-encrypting drive support, local and remote key management, and RAID 6 and RAID 60 data-protection options. The updates also broaden operating-system compatibility and management integration. Pricing and availability vary by device.

Key Terms

pcie, nvme, dma, self-encrypting drives, +1 more

5 terms

pcie technical

"new innovations in PCIe connectivity, NVMe storage and acceleration"

PCIe (PCI Express) is a high-speed connection standard used inside computers and servers to link components like graphics cards, storage drives, and network adapters so they can send data quickly to each other. Investors care because faster, more efficient PCIe support can make a product more competitive—think of it as wider, faster highway lanes for data—which affects device performance, upgrade flexibility, manufacturing cost and customer demand.

nvme technical

"new innovations in PCIe connectivity, NVMe storage and acceleration"

NVMe is a fast data-transport standard that lets modern solid-state drives (SSDs) move information much more quickly and efficiently than older interfaces, acting like a wider, faster highway between storage and a computer’s processor. For investors, NVMe matters because it boosts device and server performance, can lower operating costs and power use in data centers, and influences which products and suppliers are competitive in markets where speed and efficiency drive revenue and margins.

dma technical

"Integrated Direct Memory Access (DMA) supports efficient peer-to-peer data movement"

Direct market access (DMA) is a trading method that lets investors send buy or sell orders straight into an exchange’s order book through a broker’s technology, instead of routing orders through a dealer who makes the trade for them. Like using a highway exit to reach your destination faster, DMA matters because it can give faster execution, tighter prices and more control over order timing, which can affect trade costs and outcomes.

self-encrypting drives technical

"Self-encrypting drives (SEDs) with both local and remote key management"

Self-encrypting drives are hard drives or solid-state drives that encrypt all stored data automatically using encryption hardware built into the drive and that store and manage the encryption keys inside the device. Encryption and decryption happen inside the drive controller so data written to the disk is protected without separate software; access normally requires authentication (for example a drive password or system firmware/TPM handshake). Because the keys are inside the drive, losing or corrupting the authentication information can make the data irretrievable, and the drive's security depends on correct implementation of the drive firmware and any host-side authentication mechanisms.

raid 6 technical

"RAID 6 and RAID 60 options have been added"

RAID 6 is a disk‑array configuration that stripes data across multiple drives and stores two independent parity blocks so the array can continue operating after any two drives fail. It uses distributed, block‑level parity, which reduces usable capacity to roughly (number of drives minus two) × smallest drive size and imposes extra computation on writes for parity updates. RAID 6 protects against up to two simultaneous drive failures but does not guard against other failure modes (for example controller loss, file‑system corruption, or more than two concurrent drive failures) and typically has slower write performance than non‑parity or single‑parity RAID levels.

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New connectivity, storage and acceleration solutions help address performance, security and scalability challenges across modern computing architectures

CHANDLER, Ariz., Oct. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As AI workloads drive demand for more scalable and flexible data center architectures, organizations are looking for faster, more efficient ways to move, store and protect data. Microchip Technology (Nasdaq: MCHP) is helping to address these needs by expanding its portfolio of data center solutions with new innovations in PCIe^® connectivity, NVMe^® storage and acceleration that support high-performance computing infrastructure.

"Customers are looking for technology partners that can address multiple challenges across the infrastructure stack while helping simplify design and accelerate deployment,” said Brian McCarson, corporate vice president and GM of Microchip’s data center solutions business unit. “By continuing to expand our portfolio, we're providing the building blocks needed to create more efficient, secure and adaptable platforms for today’s increasingly distributed and data-intensive computing environments.”

Designed to bring PCIe Gen 6 connectivity to space- and power-constrained platforms, the Switchtec™ PCIe 6.0 Low-Lane-Count (LLC) switch provides up to 64 PCIe Gen 6 lanes, 32 ports and flexible x2, x4, x8 and x16 bifurcation options. Integrated Direct Memory Access (DMA) supports efficient peer-to-peer data movement between connected devices while reducing host CPU involvement. Like Microchip’s larger Switchtec Gen 6 devices, the LLC switch features PCIe Multicast and partitioning capabilities along with robust security through hardware root of trust and secure boot technologies. The new device delivers PCIe Gen 6 capabilities with a smaller, lower power footprint to extend support to a broader range of data center and intelligent edge applications.

To address the industry’s requirements for secure, scalable and AI-optimized storage infrastructure, Microchip is updating its Flashtec^® SSD controller portfolio with an enhanced version of the PCIe Gen 5 NVMe 5016 controller. Building on the controller's high-performance, power-optimized architecture, the updated device adds support for Commercial National Security Algorithm Suite (CNSA) 2.0 to help customers prepare for emerging post-quantum security requirements. Dual-port capability enables highly available storage architectures through redundant data paths and load balancing, while advanced virtualization, Quality of Service (QoS) management and flexible programmability help optimize performance. Together, these enhancements extend the Flashtec platform’s ability to address evolving NAND technologies, high-capacity SSD designs and next-generation enterprise, hyperscale and AI deployments.

Microchip is also expanding the capabilities of its Adaptec^® SmartRAID 4300 family of NVMe RAID storage accelerators with a series of enhancements designed to address practical operational needs. The updates are focused on strengthening storage security, minimizing downtime, expanding data protection and simplifying deployment across a wider range of environments. Self-encrypting drives (SEDs) with both local and remote key management, and RAID 6 and RAID 60 options have been added for increased resiliency and security. Broader platform compatibility is enabled through support for Linux^®, Debian, Ubuntu^® and Microsoft^® Windows^® 11 environments. Additional updates such as dynamic NVMe configuration for in-service management, persistent event logging and peer-to-peer rebuild support for greater CPU offload help reduce management overhead while minimizing service disruption. StorageCore API support further expands integration flexibility, enabling customers to incorporate SmartRAID management into third-party tools through in-band host applications as well as customized out-of-band BMC management frameworks. 

The latest additions reflect the company's ongoing commitment to advancing the performance, availability and security of next-generation computing platforms. Visit the website to learn more about Microchip’s full portfolio of data center solutions.

Development Tools
Microchip's data center portfolio is supported by a suite of development and management tools, including ChipLink software for configuration, diagnostics, telemetry and debug of PCIe switches. Additional support includes software for device monitoring, configuration and firmware management, Flashtec NVMe controller development resources and Adaptec storage management software.

Pricing and Availability
Pricing and availability vary by device. Contact a Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor for more information.

Resources
High-res images available through Flickr or editorial contact (feel free to publish):
·Application image: https://www.flickr.com/gp/microchiptechnology/3FpzU658s8

About Microchip Technology:
Microchip Technology Inc. is a broadline supplier of semiconductors committed to making innovative design easier through total system solutions that address critical challenges at the intersection of emerging technologies and durable end markets. Its easy-to-use development tools and comprehensive product portfolio supports customers throughout the design process, from concept to completion. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip offers outstanding technical support and delivers solutions across the industrial, automotive, consumer, aerospace and defense, communications and computing markets. For more information, visit the Microchip website at www.microchip.com.

Note: The Microchip name and logo, the Microchip logo, Adaptec and Flashtec are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries. Switchtec is a trademark of Microchip Technology Inc. in the U.S.A. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies.

Editorial Contact:
Amber Liptai
480-792-5047
amber.liptai@microchip.com