DAILY NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR THE GLOBAL GRID COMMUNITY /    ( Table of Contents )

Breaking News - Networking:

FASTPATH Enables Deployment Of Intelligent Apps Network Edge

LVL7 Systems, a provider of the award-winning FASTPATH merchant IP networking software for Layer 2, 3 and 4 Ethernet products, announced that it is developing a next-generation distributed software architecture for stackable Ethernet switches and is working with Broadcom Corp to enable full non-disruptive dynamic stacking. LVL7 is leveraging its FASTPATH Distributed Software Architecture and Broadcom's advanced API and driver technology to optimize the partitioning of stacking functionality between the silicon, driver and networking application. FASTPATH Distributed Architecture is being integrated with the latest generation of StrataXGS silicon from Broadcom Corp, a leading provider of Ethernet-switching silicon solutions enabling broadband communications.

The reliable and redundant 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet stackable switch solutions enabled by the FASTPATH Distributed Architecture will allow intelligent applications to reside at the edge of the network in a low cost stackable Ethernet switch, yet scale as the network grows by simply adding additional switches to the stack to increase port capability and processing power. This will enable applications such as security, Voice over IP, Wireless mobility, Broadband Access, Digital Music and Video on Demand. This new generation of Ethernet stackable switches will allow Network and IT managers to expand and optimize the utilization of their networks by easily adding additional switches to existing stacks without network disruption.

Web services, utility computing, .NET, CPU harvesting and distributed computing are just a few of the technologies that fall under the Grid computing umbrella. Gt04 -- a premiere enterprise Grid computing conference targeting industrial and commercial users -- will gather experts, and outline strategies and road maps for Grid deployment. For more information, visit www.gt04.com.

Grid computing is here!

"By enabling a cost effective dynamic network architecture to support the ever growing demand in complexity of user applications, LVL7 has developed the vision of expanding the concept of 'intelligence at the edge' to 'scalable intelligence across the edge'", said LVL7 CEO Albert Bender. "Distributed applications on distributed edge switches provide the Network Administrator the greatest flexibility at the lowest cost. Broadcom with its feature rich StrataXGS silicon is the ideal partner to deliver this vision."

To realize a stackable Ethernet switch, recent innovations in switching silicon need to be married with advanced systems software and a fully dynamic silicon driver that together, allow networks to be reconfigured without rebooting individual switches. The industry leading Broadcom StrataXGS silicon family has the advanced features required to optimize the design of a stackable Ethernet switch.

"We're pleased to see LVL7 take full advantage of the Broadcom Switch Software API," said Ford Tamer, Broadcom's group vice president of the Networking Infrastructure Group. "The combination of Broadcom's advanced API and driver technology with LVL7's FASTPATH Distributed Architecture will enable our common customers to significantly improve time-to-market for next-generation stackable Ethernet switches."

The integration of FASTPATH software and Distributed Architecture with the Broadcom StrataXGS product family will be available for both the VxWorks and Linux operating systems.

Broadcom's StrataXGS is the company's third generation Gigabit Ethernet switch architecture that offers the industry's first complete multi-layer (Layer 2 through Layer 7) scalable and stackable GbE switches optimized for enterprise business networks. Included within the StrataXGS family are the BCM5690, BCM5691, BCM5692, BCM5693, BCM5670, BCM5671, BCM5673 and next-generation silicon.

FASTPATH Distributed Architecture Features

• Single IP Address Management.
• Redundant Management Control.
• Support for Redundant ring topology.
• Automatic election of Primary and Backup Management Units.
• Distribution of Configuration and Code.
• Hot Plug Support of Units.
• Offline configuration of modules.
• Support for all protocols across the stack including Routing, QOS, Multicast and Layer 2 Switching including VLANs, port mirroring and Link aggregation.

Benefits Of FASTPATH Distributed Architecture For OEMs And TEMs

FASTPATH Distributed Architecture is the industry's first operating system independent networking software that offers Enterprise OEMs and Telecommunication Equipment Manufacturers (TEMs) a platform for delivering turnkey, stackable Ethernet solutions integrated on Broadcom silicon that are system tested, LVL7 certified and interoperable. The stackable offerings will be production ready, allowing OEMs and TEMs to get to market quickly with a fully functional system at a fraction of the cost and with virtually zero development risk. OEMs and TEMs can further reduce their support costs by having a common software platform across all Fast and Gigabit Layer 2 and Layer 3 stackable products.

Benefits Of FASTPATH For End Users

End users deploying infrastructure products that feature FASTPATH Distributed Architecture can leverage the inherent advantages of a scalable, modular, intelligent infrastructure to implement advanced applications at the edge of the network and to easily expand the networking infrastructure from a single pizza box to multiple interconnected switch stacks as demand increases.