N+I 1999: Vertex Networks to Demo Integrated Single-Chip Ethernet Distributed Switches
Though the protocol is well into its second decade, Ethernet technology remains hot. Vertex Networks Inc. (Irvine, CA), a developer of components for LAN/WAN switching applications, will demonstrate its integrated single-chip Ethernet distributed switches at its NetWorld+Interop Booth # 8202.
The XpressFlow DS212, a 12-port 10/100Mbps chip, and the XpressFlow DS213, a 13-port 10/100/1000Mbps chip, are non-blocking Ethernet switches with on-chip address memory. Both chips offer 12 10/100Mbps autosensing, Fast Ethernet ports with reduced MII interface. The DS213 also offers a single Gigabit Ethernet port with GMII or PCS interface. Additionally, as part of Vertex Networks' XpressFlow 2080 chipset, unmanaged Layer 2 switching applications are supported by the DS112, a 12-port 10/100Mbps chip, and the DS113, a 12-port 10/100Mbps + 1 Gigibit chip.
For Layer 2 switching capabilities in the DS212 and DS213, the on-chip address memory supports up to 2K MAC addresses and up to 256 IEEE 802.1Q VLANs. A 3.2Gbps pipe allows a high-speed, non-blocking connection between two DS212/DS213 chips, for an affordable workgroup switching solution with 24 10/100 Fast Ethernet ports or 24 10/100 Fast Ethernet + 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports.
The DS212 and DS213 support port trunking/load sharing on the 10/100 Mbps ports. The port trunking/load sharing can be used to group ports between interlinked switches to increase the effective system bandwidth. Both chips support QoS IEEE 802.1p with four levels of priority transmission queues.
For high-performance packet forwarding and filtering at full-wire speed, the DS212 supports 1.786M packets per second and the DS213 supports 3.274M packets per second (6.548M packets per second system throughput) using a true non-blocking architecture.
For full wire speed support on all external ports simultaneously, the Frame Buffer Memory Interface uses cost effective, high-performance pipelined synchronous burst SRAM.
The XpressFlow DS212 and the DS213 will be available in May or June 1999 at a price of $54 and $69. The DS112 and DS113 will also be available for $39 and $49.