Barefoot Networks
Corporate brand
UnclaimedBarefoot Networks was a U.S. networking technology company known for programmable Ethernet switch silicon, networking systems, and software based on the P4 programming model.
Last updated August 31, 2026
History
Barefoot Networks was established in 2013 in the United States with the aim of developing a new generation of networking hardware. Its founders included Nick McKeown, Martin Izzard, Pat Bosshart, and Stefanos Sidiropoulos, with Dan Lenoski later receiving co-founder recognition. The company was built around the proposition that network switches should be more adaptable. Conventional switching hardware commonly embeds much of its packet-processing behavior in fixed-function silicon. Barefoot instead pursued programmable switch chips that could be customized through software-defined descriptions of packet-processing behavior. The company’s technical direction was closely associated with P4, a programming language for specifying packet-forwarding data planes. In practical terms, P4 made it possible for developers and network operators to define how a switch identifies packet headers, applies forwarding logic, performs measurements, and handles specialized protocols. Barefoot’s business therefore combined semiconductor design with systems and software intended for data centers and other high-throughput networks. During its early years, Barefoot received support from prominent venture investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Sequoia Capital. It operated privately and in stealth before announcing its public emergence on June 14, 2016. At that time, the company also disclosed a significant funding round involving Goldman Sachs, AT&T, Dell, and Google. Additional backing from Alibaba Group and Tencent was announced later in 2016. The investor group represented several prospective user communities for programmable networking, including cloud platforms, communications providers, enterprise technology companies, and financial institutions. Barefoot’s central hardware product was the Tofino programmable switch chip. The cited reference describes Tofino as supporting switching speeds of up to 12.8 Tbit/s. The product was intended for high-performance Ethernet environments in which customers wanted to alter packet-processing behavior, introduce new telemetry functions, or support evolving networking requirements without replacing the entire hardware architecture. The company also offered Deep Insight, a monitoring and visibility system designed to inspect packet activity in real time. Deep Insight was described as running on commodity servers while analyzing traffic at line rate and helping identify problems that could obstruct packet flow. Leadership shifted in 2017 when Craig H. Barratt took over as chief executive from Martin Izzard. Barefoot continued operating as an independent company until June 2019, when Intel announced its acquisition. The transaction value was not disclosed in the available source material. The acquisition placed Barefoot’s programmable switching technology within Intel’s broader networking portfolio and ended the company’s independent corporate phase. The later history of the brand is less clearly documented in the supplied references. Intel stated in January 2023 that it had halted production of its networking chips. That announcement indicates a significant reduction or discontinuation in the relevant product activity, but the available material does not provide enough information to determine the exact scope of the decision, the treatment of every Barefoot product, or whether the Barefoot name remained in use for any continuing software or support offering. Barefoot Networks is therefore best described as an acquired networking technology company whose independent operations ended after its integration into Intel, with its current standalone brand status requiring further review.
- 2023
Intel reports networking-chip production halt
[1]Intel states that it has halted production on its networking chips associated with the acquired business.
- 2019
Intel announces acquisition
[1]Intel announces an agreement to acquire Barefoot Networks for an undisclosed amount.
- 2017
Chief executive transition
[1]Craig H. Barratt succeeds Martin Izzard as chief executive officer.
- 2016
Barefoot emerges from stealth
[1]The company publicly launches on June 14 and presents its focus on programmable networking silicon and related software.
- 2014
Dan Lenoski joins the founding team
[1]Dan Lenoski joins the company and is subsequently recognized as a co-founder.
- 2013
Barefoot Networks is founded
[1]The networking technology company is established by Nick McKeown, Martin Izzard, Pat Bosshart, and Stefanos Sidiropoulos, with Dan Lenoski later receiving co-founder status.
Products and positioning
Barefoot Networks positioned itself as a provider of programmable, high-performance networking infrastructure. Its differentiation centered on P4-enabled control of switch data planes, enabling customers to adapt packet processing and network telemetry through software rather than relying solely on fixed-function switching silicon.
Programmable Ethernet switch chip
Barefoot Tofino
Tofino was Barefoot Networks’ signature programmable switch-chip family. It used the P4 programming model to let developers specify packet parsing, forwarding, telemetry, and other data-plane behavior. The product targeted high-throughput data-center and network infrastructure deployments and was described in the reference material as supporting aggregate switching performance of up to 12.8 Tbit/s. Its purpose was to provide more adaptable switching than fixed-function silicon.
Network monitoring and visibility system
Barefoot Deep Insight
Deep Insight was a network-monitoring system designed to provide detailed visibility into packet activity across a network. It was intended to run on commodity servers and to interpret, analyze, and pinpoint conditions that could impede packet flow. The system’s stated design goal was real-time, line-rate analysis, complementing Barefoot’s programmable switching hardware with operational telemetry and troubleshooting capabilities.
Brand decisions
2023
Halt in production of networking chipsOtherBackground
After Intel’s acquisition of Barefoot, Intel reviewed or changed its networking-chip activities.
Action taken
Intel stated that it had halted production on its networking chips.
Aftermath
The statement suggests that production of the relevant hardware line ended or was substantially discontinued. The supplied source does not specify product-by-product effects, customer transition arrangements, or the future of associated software.
2019
Intel acquisition of Barefoot NetworksM&ABackground
Barefoot had developed programmable switch silicon and networking software around the P4 programming model. Intel announced the acquisition as the company’s independent corporate phase was coming to an end.
Action taken
Intel announced that it would acquire Barefoot Networks. The cited material does not disclose the purchase price or detailed transaction terms.
Aftermath
Barefoot became part of Intel’s networking activities. The later standalone status of the Barefoot brand and the precise treatment of its products are not fully established by the available references.
Recent events
- 2023
Intel reports that production of its networking chips has been halted[1]
Product generation · Other
Intel stated that it had stopped production on the networking chips associated with the acquired Barefoot business.
- 2019
Intel announces acquisition of Barefoot Networks[1]
M&A
Intel announced that it would acquire Barefoot Networks in a transaction whose price was not disclosed in the cited reference.
- 2017
Craig H. Barratt becomes Barefoot Networks chief executive[1]
Leadership change
Craig H. Barratt succeeded Martin Izzard as chief executive officer.
- 2016
Barefoot Networks emerges from stealth with programmable networking technology[1]
Product launch · Other
Barefoot Networks publicly introduced its programmable networking focus and announced a financing round involving Goldman Sachs, AT&T, Dell, and Google.
- 2016
Barefoot Networks announces additional backing from Alibaba Group and Tencent[1]
Other
The company added Alibaba Group and Tencent to the group of strategic or financial backers reported during its early commercial development.
Sources2 sources
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