PLX PCI Express Switch Named to PCI-SIG Integrators List; ExpressLane PEX 8516 Devices Passes Rigorous Interoperability, Compliance Tests To Achieve Place on Distinguished List.

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- PLX Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq:PLXT), the leading supplier of standard input/output (I/O) interconnect silicon to the communications, server, storage, embedded control, and consumer industries, today announced that the PLX(R) ExpressLane(TM) PEX 8516 PCI Express(TM) (PCIe) switch device is now on the PCI-SIG(R) Integrators List. At the recent PCI-SIG Compliance Workshop, the PEX 8516 PCIe switch passed the rigorous interoperability and compliance tests to achieve places on the Integrators List.

The PEX 8516 joins two other ExpressLane devices already on the Integrators List. Both the 32-lane PEX 8532 switch and PEX 8111 PCIe-to-PCI bridge were added to the list earlier this year.

The PCI-SIG is the special interest group that owns and manages PCI specifications as open industry standards. The PCI-SIG Integrators List includes all products that have successfully completed the testing procedures of the Compliance Workshop. Many companies refer to the list when making company-to-company purchases.

PLX designed the ExpressLane family of PCI Express switches and bridges to meet the stringent requirements of the PCI-SIG compliance testing. During the development phase, PLX verification and validation teams created a superset of the PCI-SIG compliance suites and put these devices through these tests during simulation, emulation and silicon testing. In addition to this testing of the silicon before participating in the compliance testing, PLX performed interoperability with products from various vendors in its own labs. As a result, the PEX 8516 passed the PCI-SIG compliance testing the first time.

The PEX 8516 is the industry's only 16-lane PCIe switching device with four flexible ports, two virtual channels, and non-transparent bridging. The device provides flexible port widths, allowing any port to be configured as either upstream or downstream through hardware strapping, software configuration or an optional EEPROM. The switch provides a standard Hot Plug controller on each port to enable field upgrades. Furthermore, it provides optional end-to-end cyclic redundancy checks (ECRC) to support the applications that require guaranteed data integrity while it moves from source to destination. In addition to the basic error reporting, the PEX 8516 supports advanced error reporting, thus easing system development, debug and optimization.

As part of the PCI-SIG compliance program, each workshop participant must pass several tests in order to be placed on the Integrators List. This helps assure designers that they can integrate the PEX 85316 device with other PCIe technology-compliant components and systems. It also broadens the system-interconnect ecosystem needed for the deployment of the PCIe architecture in mainstream and mission-critical applications.

About PLX

PLX Technology, Inc. (www.plxtech.com), based in Sunnyvale, Calif., USA, is a leading supplier of lead-free standard I/O interconnect silicon to the communications, server, storage, embedded-control, and consumer industries. The PLX solution provides a competitive edge to our customers through an integrated combination of high-performance silicon, hardware and software design tools, and partnerships. These innovative solutions enable our customers to develop equipment with industry-leading performance, scalability and reliability. Furthermore, the combination of PLX product features and supporting infrastructure allow customers to bring their designs to market faster. PLX PCI, PCI-X, PCI Express, and USB devices are designed into a wide variety of applications across multiple industries.

PLX, ExpressLane and the PLX Technology logo are registered trademarks of PLX Technology, Inc., which may be registered in some jurisdictions. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.