
Hello UEC Community,
Happy New Year! I’d like to extend a warm welcome to all our new members and express gratitude to those who’ve been contributing to our growth and success. UEC’s mission remains clear: to establish the best Ethernet-based high-performance network for AI & HPC workloads. Together, we’re making strides toward an ambitious goal, and as we step into 2025, it’s an exciting time to reflect on our progress and look ahead to what’s coming.
Looking Back: A 2024 in Review
2024 marked a year of incredible growth and achievement. We began with a foundational vision, and by year’s end, UEC had grown from 10 companies to over 100, representing a diverse cross-section of the tech industry. This expansion is a testament to the value and importance of UEC’s mission in addressing the networking challenges posed by AI and HPC.
Throughout the year, we made significant strides across the Physical, Link, Transport, and Software layers. Our work included the development of innovative congestion management schemes, built-in security features, and optimized packet delivery mechanisms—all critical components for meeting the demands of the most intensive workloads in history. With over 25 individual projects contributing to the cause as part of the upcoming release of the UEC specification, we’ve crafted a finely tuned Ethernet stack that serves as a solid foundation for future work.
The momentum is undeniable, and it’s evident that UEC is filling a critical need in the industry. This growth is a direct result of the dedication of our working group chairs, draft authors, and volunteers. Your efforts deserve recognition, and on behalf of the UEC Steering Committee I want to personally thank you for your hard work.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for 2025
As we head into 2025, we remain focused on delivering an Ethernet solution that sets a new standard for AI and HPC workloads. Our goals for the upcoming year are both ambitious and achievable, and I’m excited to outline what’s to come:
- Release of UEC 1.0: Early in 2025, we’ll release the fully integrated 1.0 specification, consolidating the various drafts and laying the foundation for real-world implementation. This will be a key milestone in UEC’s journey and a true reflection of the dedication and collaboration of our members.
- Compliance and Performance Enhancements: As we roll out the specification, we’ll focus on creating a robust compliance program that will allow vendors to validate their products against UEC standards. At the same time, we’ll continue to refine performance enhancements and explore new solutions in storage and management.
- Member-Ready Products: 2025 will see the debut of the first UEC-ready products from members, bringing our vision into the mainstream. This will be a game-changer for the industry and a significant step forward in enabling AI and HPC workloads to reach their full potential. This is a long-anticipated and exciting milestone for everyone.
- UEC Member Summit & Events: One of the highlights of 2025 will be the UEC Member Summit. This key event will bring our collaborators together in person to review past achievements, address any challenges, and strategize for the future. It will be a critical opportunity for our teams to align on our shared vision and ensure the successful rollout of UEC 1.0.
In addition to the summit, you’ll see UEC’s presence at other key industry events throughout the year. Stay tuned for any event updates and we look forward to connecting with you in person.
The future of UEC is bright, and together, we will continue to pave the way for groundbreaking advancements in high-performance networking. As always, the culture of UEC encourages collaboration, collegiality, and cross-pollination of ideas across the Ethernet ecosystem. I challenge each of you to help us achieve these goals and contribute to the success of UEC in the coming year.
In Closing
To everyone who has been involved with UEC since its inception, I want to extend my deepest gratitude. Your hard work, dedication, and passion have helped us reach this point, and we are poised for even greater success in 2025.
Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to an exciting year ahead as we work together to make UEC the premier networking standard for AI and HPC workloads.
Best regards,
J Metz, Ph.D.
Chair, Ultra Ethernet Consortium