Breaking News -
Networking:
Zarlink Launches High Quality
16-Port Ethernet Grid Switches
Zarlink Semiconductor expanded its portfolio of high-quality Ethernet
switching chips with the ZL 50418 family of four devices that cost-effectively
aggregate 16 ports of Fast Ethernet traffic.
Leading networking companies in Asia, Europe and North America are already
using the ZL50418 family for metro access equipment, including media gateways,
edge routers, and passive optical networks. The chips are also targeted for
VDSL (very high-speed digital subscriber line) DSLAMs (digital subscriber line
access multiplexers), and LAN (local-area network) workgroup switches.
Zarlink's ZL50418 chips deliver advanced QoS (quality of service) features
that allow carriers to cost-effectively tailor services to customer needs.
With the ZL50418 family, carriers can provision and manage up to eight
different classes of network traffic, including time-sensitive voice and
video. The chips switch this traffic at wire speed over up to 16 Fast Ethernet
(10/100 Mb/s (megabits per second)) and two Gigabit Ethernet non-blocking
ports.
To support these chips, Zarlink also launched a compact version of its
Ethernet management software suite, which allows designers to quickly build
complete Layer 2 networking solutions. This economical package is designed for
backplane applications that require only a subset of the drivers and protocols
offered in the full suite.
"There is solid market demand for cost-effective, 16-port Ethernet switches
with excellent QoS capabilities," said Paul Vu, product line marketing
manager, Packet Switching, Zarlink Semiconductor. "Together with our compact
management software and system reference design, our chips make it easier for
customers to quickly develop networking support for widely deployed 16-port
applications."
Leading QoS Capabilities
With their advanced QoS capabilities, Zarlink's ZL50418 Ethernet chips are
ideal for handling time-sensitive voice and video traffic in convergent
networks. For example, when combined with Zarlink's MT90880/1/2/3 packet
processors, the switches allow profitable TDM access services, such as T1/E1
leased lines, to be delivered with carrier-grade quality over Ethernet
links.
Each ZL50418 port has up to eight output queues, which service providers
can
program to differentiate traffic based on its priority level. The queues map
to and provide full support for the eight traffic classes in the IETF
(Internet Engineering Task Force) Differentiated Services Set. This includes
the network management, expedited forwarding, assured forwarding, and best
effort classes.
The ZL50418 family uses scheduling algorithms to minimize the output delay
of
queued traffic. The algorithms manage a combination of prioritization schemes,
such as delay bound scheduling, weighted fair queuing, and strict priority.
Delay bound scheduling guarantees output delays of less than 160 microseconds
in heavily congested conditions. Congestion management is provided using
weighted random early detection.
Flexible Support For Low-Density Applications
Zarlink's ZL50418 switches meet a wide range of requirements for Ethernet
aggregation equipment. The ZL50417/418 integrate 16 Fast Ethernet ports with
two Gigabit Ethernet ports to deliver non-blocking throughput at a maximum 7.2
Gb/s (gigabits per second). These switches forward up to 10.712 Mpps (million
packets per second) at wire speed.
The ZL50415/416 devices have 16 Fast Ethernet ports, achieve non-blocking
throughput of up to 3.2 Gb/s, and forward up to 4.762 Mpps at wire speed.
The Gigabit ports provide Layer 2 forwarding and Layer 3/4 classification,
and
can be programmed to support a mix of Fast Ethernet ports. The Gigabit ports
also feature data rate control, which allows service providers to tailor
bandwidth-based services to individual customers.
Comprehensive Reference Design
To help customers speed their time-to-market, Zarlink's Ethernet switches
are
supported by a comprehensive system reference design. The design provides a
platform for multiple applications, including managed and unmanaged
configurations with Gigabit uplinks over copper or fiber.
Zarlink's ZL50418 family complements the company's successful 24-port Fast
Ethernet MVTX2600 line, and its MVTX2800 family of Gigabit Ethernet switching
chips.
Pricing And Availability
Zarlink's ZL50418 family is in volume production. The devices are designed
in
0.25-micron CMOS (complementary metal oxide silicon) and offered in 553-pin
BGA (ball grid array) packages. In low volumes, the ZL50418 is priced at
US$79.73, the ZL50417 at US$76.36, the ZL50416 at US$73.00, and the ZL50415 at
US$69.29.
About Zarlink Semiconductor
Zarlink employs its formidable analog, digital and mixed-signal
capabilities
to offer the most compelling products for wired, wireless and optical
connectivity markets and ultra low-power medical applications. For more
information, visit www.zarlink.com.
Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking
statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any
future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and assumptions include,
among others, the risks discussed in documents filed by the Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are encouraged to consider the
risks detailed in those filings.
http://products.zarlink.com
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