Intelligent Input/Output (I2O) is a hardware specification that describes a model for offloading I/O processing from the CPU. This has the potential to result in extremely high performance I/O, but it is not a replacement for the PCI architecture. The model is after the style of what has been used in very large mainframes for years.

First developed by a small group in Intel, I2O was extended to Microsoft and eventually lead to the creation of the I2O Special Interest Group. I2O does not introduce new concepts in I/O technology but is particularly attractive to companies related to the PC industry because it is designed to be cheap compared to large server solutions from IBM, SGI etc. I2O is also aimed at high-end workstations.

The I2O SIG web site states "The I2O Specification is not only a technical work product of the SIG members, but an agreement about the intellectual content and the terms and conditions for how the Specification can be used. Therefore, to make the Specification available to non-members a non-disclosure agreement must be executed." This is why I2O cannot be called "open" in any sense.

More on [ I2O ]

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