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Telecommunications equipment industry

Level One Communications Unveils IX Architecture for Intelligent Network Systems

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Level One Communications, an Intel company, has announced a family of silicon components based on the new Intel Internet Exchange (IX) Architecture, designed to provide intelligent network systems for the next generation of high-bandwidth equipment. The company unveiled a range of products, including the IXP1200 network processor, a powerful and flexible network engine that replaces traditional ASICs, and a family of scalable switching and formatting engines. Manufacturers of networking and telecommunications equipment can use components from the IX Architecture-based product portfolio to design new, more intelligent network systems.

Key Takeaways:

  • The IX Architecture is a new approach to designing networking and telecommunications equipment based on reprogrammable silicon and open interfaces.
  • The IXP1200 network processor, the flagship product of the IX Architecture, is a highly integrated network processor that includes a powerful StrongARM processor core and six programmable RISC micro engines, capable of switching 2.5 million packets per second.
  • The IXP1200 processor allows manufacturers to speed the design of high-bandwidth routers, switches, and access concentrators supporting protocols such as Gigabit Ethernet, Sonet, and ATM.
  • Level One's IX Architecture portfolio includes a range of 13 products, including switching engines, formatting engines, and physical layer components, designed to provide manufacturers with the flexibility to use these components independently or in combination to build flexible and scalable LAN, WAN, or Internet-based networks.
  • Major companies such as Broadband Access Systems, Cabletron, CAG, Cisco, Newbridge Networks, and Omneon Video Networks have announced plans to develop products based on the IXP1200 network processor, demonstrating the potential of the IX Architecture for intelligent network systems.

Statistics:

  • The IXP1200 network processor can switch 2.5 million packets per second.
  • The IX Architecture product family consists of 13 products, providing manufacturers with the flexibility to use these components independently or in combination to build flexible and scalable LAN, WAN, or Internet-based networks.
  • Initial samples of the IXP1200 are available now, with production unit availability later this year.
  • Quantity one pricing for the IXP1200 is expected to be $200.

Sources:

  • (1) "Need for Next Generation Switches and Router Drives Network Processor Revolution," International Data Corporation, April 1999.

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