64-bit/66 MHz Computing and PCI Bus Performance

The demand for network bandwidth continues to increase with the evolution of the Internet/Intranet, distributed database technology, network backup, business process software and network computing. As a result, LAN technologies are emerging to accommodate Gigabit and eventually Terabit speeds. In support of this evolution, more powerful, next generation super-servers have begun to appear in the networks of large Fortune 100 companies and institutional networks. As these technological advances migrate through the rest of the network infrastructure, attached devices must also advance in key areas. I/O interfaces, specifically the PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus, and server-optimized network adapters (NICs) are a key part of the overall solution to enhance server performance and network performance.