Network Processing Forum Continues Its Momentum; Passes Streaming Interface Specification and Switch Fabric Benchmark Framework.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 21, 2002

The Network Processing Forum (NPF)

-- Standard Interface Contributes to Significant Cost Reduction

in Building NPU-Based Products; Benchmark Framework Paves the

Way for Objective Measurement and Reporting of Key Performance

Criteria for Switch Fabrics

The Network Processing Forum (NPF) today announced the availability of two significant implementation agreements (IAs) -- the Streaming Interface IA and the Switch Fabric Benchmark Framework IA. The Streaming Interface specification provides link layer interoperability among data path devices and is designed to be speed independent and scalable. Initially it is targeted for 10 Gbps applications, increasing to 40 Gbps in the future. The Switch Fabric Benchmark Framework IA defines guidelines for the development of switch fabric benchmarks by the NPF.

"The NPF is releasing IAs at an accelerated pace," said John G. Metz, principal, Metz International, Ltd, Harvard, MA. "These new IAs, along with the ones released over the past couple of months, add up to an impressive body of work for the NPF, sure to have a positive impact on the market."

About the Streaming Interface Specification

The Hardware Working Group defines, promotes, and delivers hardware interfaces for the packet data path through a network processor ("Streaming Interface") as well as for components attached to a network processor but not in the data path ("Look-Aside Interface"). The Streaming Interface specification defines link layer interoperability among data path devices including framer to NPU, NPU to NPU, and NPU to switch fabric. This work builds on the success of the existing 2.5 Gbps CSIX-L1 specification and adopts a reduced pin-count approach to a 10 Gbps interface between network processors, framers, and switching fabrics. The Working Group leveraged the existing Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) SPI-4 phase 2 interface during this development. The protocol is speed independent and scalable. Initially targeted for 10Gbps applications, future revisions are planned to extend the interface to 40Gbps applications.

"As one of the most difficult and advanced high-speed interfaces ever to be tackled, the passage of the NPF Streaming Interface specification reflects the commitment and hard work of member companies in gaining consensus in solving difficult flow control, error handling and other technical issues," said Russell Dietz, chair of the NPF Hardware Working Group. "By providing standard hardware interfaces, the NPF enables network equipment manufacturers to combine chips from different manufacturers and to modify existing designs simply by adding or changing components. From the network processing vendor perspective, standard interfaces expand the market and significantly reduce the cost of building products."

The complete NPF Streaming Interface is available to the public at no cost from the Network Processing Forum at http://www.npforum.org/techinfo/approved.shtml.

About the Switch Fabric Benchmark Framework IA

The performance of a switch fabric depends on several factors, including the fabric internal architecture, fabric configuration, application and traffic characteristics, and the data flow mechanism between a traffic manager and the fabric. The user of a switch fabric, the system designer, is interested in understanding the performance of the fabric under various conditions. The Framework IA specifies that NPF switch fabric benchmarks will define a set of test methods for determining the performance of switch fabrics under various scenarios (such as bursty traffic or multiple classes of service). It also specifies that the benchmarks will provide performance metrics for each individual traffic scenario rather than an average over several scenarios. The Framework focuses the benchmarks on switch fabrics using a CSIX interface. Future Switch Fabric Benchmark extensions could include other interfaces, such as NPF streaming.

"The switch fabric is a principal building block in data network switches and routers," commented Serge Audenaert, chair of the NPF Benchmarking Working Group. "The Framework IA provides the foundation on which we will build the switch fabric benchmarks. We believe benchmarks are very important for they will allow system design engineers to assess and compare different switch fabrics in an open and objective manner, allowing them to easily select the product that best meets their needs."

The Switch Fabric Benchmark Framework is available to the public at no cost from the Network Processing Forum at http://www.npforum.org/techinfo/approved.shtml.

About the Network Processing Forum

The Network Processing Forum (NPF) was organized to facilitate and accelerate the development of next-generation networking and telecommunications products based on network processing technologies. By establishing common specifications, the NPF will enable equipment providers to significantly reduce their design burden while having the flexibility to use the best components to fit their requirements. The organization was formed to build on the efforts of two former industry groups -- the Common Programming Interface Forum (CPIX) and the Common Switch Interface Consortium (CSIX) -- by delivering specifications for programmable network elements that reduce equipment time-to-market while dramatically increasing time-in-market. Established in February 2001, the NPF has close to 90 members. For more information, visit the Forum's web site at http://www.npforum.org.

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