Sandburst Introduces the QE-2000 Next Generation Traffic Manager Device.

ANDOVER, Mass. -- 20Gbps full-duplex integrated traffic manager/fabric interface device includes an embedded processor to enable unmatched performance, scale, and QoS for Ethernet switches

Sandburst Corporation, a provider of scalable and adaptable silicon for advanced packet systems, today introduced the QE-2000, a 20Gbps full-duplex integrated traffic manager/fabric interface device that enables new levels of performance, scale and Quality of Service for both high-end and mid-range packet based switching and routing systems. The QE-2000 substantially extends the features and capabilities of Sandburst's market leading HiBeam(R) fabric by scaling it to 1.28 terabits per second and by adding advanced features that enable a new class of mid-range Ethernet switching systems using heavily oversubscribed architectures. The QE-2000 incorporates a unique embedded packet processor that allows the extension of the HiBeam architecture from core to mid-range systems and allows Sandburst's OEM customers to leverage their development resources and software investment across a broader product portfolio.

"The QE-2000 broadens the HiBeam product line, enabling OEMs to reduce system cost and time to market by using merchant silicon for high-end and mid-range markets," noted Jag Bolaria Senior Analyst with The Linley Group. "With a proven solution, Sandburst is positioned to emerge as a provider of choice for world class OEMs."

A 20Gbps full-duplex device designed in 0. 13-micron technology, the QE-2000 extends Sandburst's leadership in fabric performance, scalability and QoS. The QE-2000 features:

--Over 16,000 queues per device (512K per system) with an unprecedented 16 classes of service per port.

--Two SPI4.2 interfaces with up to 50 total sub-channels.

--Eighteen 3.125 GHz SERDES interfaces supporting up to 45 Gbps of fabric connectivity (2.25x Speedup).

--DDR2 SDRAM off-chip packet buffer - utilizing very low-cost, commercially available memory for the patented Virtual Output Queue (VOQ) architecture.

--Embedded packet processing enabling advanced processing and reduced system cost.

--Fine grained shaping for both physical and virtual ports.

--High Density Gigabit Ethernet support - Enables line card densities up to 48 10/100/1000 interfaces with a single QE-2000.

--Comprehensive QoS - The QE-2000 incorporates a patented packet-based QoS algorithm that delivers unprecedented support for bandwidth guarantees and priority traffic without compromising wire speed throughput.

The QE-2000's flexible design allows it to support a variety of configurations and applications, including:

Integrated Traffic Manager/Fabric Interface Device: Configured as an integrated traffic manager/fabric interface device, the QE-2000 enables packet-based switch/router systems that support up to 640 line rate gigabit ports, 1,536 oversubscribed gigabit ports, 64 line rate 10Gbps ports and 256 oversubscribed 10Gbps ports. Utilizing its 16,000 queues, the QE-2000 can apply up to 16 classes of service to each of the gigabit ports. In this application, the QE-2000 allows for ingress and egress traffic shaping, bandwidth guarantees through the fabric and a complete set of QoS features. The embedded packet processor provides processing on egress and eliminates the need for a separate egress processor, further reducing system cost.

Integrated Single-Chip Programmable Packet Processor/Traffic Manager/Fabric Interface for Mid-Range Modular Systems: The QE-2000's integrated programmable packet processing is the foundation for a new class of "mid-range" modular chassis systems targeted at desktop aggregation applications that deliver highly economical gigabit port density, line rate 10Gbps ports, and exceptionally rich QoS with a fully programmable forwarding plane. Utilizing the QE-2000 in this application enables highly cost effective, oversubscribed line-cards that leverage the QE-2000's exceptional traffic management capabilities to protect the prioritization of voice, video and control traffic through the switch despite the oversubscription. The embedded packet processor incorporates a subset of Sandburst's FE-1000 packet processing capabilities, enabling the QE-2000 to prioritize, classify and route ingress traffic without a separate standalone packet processor. On egress, the embedded packet processor provides a rich feature set, including bridging, IPv4 and IPv6 routing, tunneling, VLAN/MPLS encapsulation, and traffic shaping. This solution allows Sandburst's OEM customers to apply their investments in software, quality assurance, test and support, across core and mid-range systems.

Stand-Alone Traffic Manager for Enterprise Services Blades and Metro Ethernet Aggregation Applications: The QE-2000 allows the deployment of advanced Ethernet services by providing sophisticated QoS support on up to 4,096 Virtual Ports. The QE-2000 enables hierarchical traffic shaping and bandwidth guarantees per physical interface, per VLAN or per LSP.

Sandburst's Chief Executive Officer, Vince Graziani concluded: "The QE-2000's rich features, performance and design flexibility provide system vendors with the competitive foundation they need to achieve differentiation in both the high-end and mid-range markets. The QE-2000 exemplifies the unmatched execution abilities of Sandburst's design and engineering teams, and reinforces Sandburst's leadership in the next wave of Ethernet and IP switch market advances."

Sandburst will sample the QE-2000 in December 2004.

About Sandburst

Sandburst(R) is a fabless semiconductor company delivering adaptive silicon to power advanced Ethernet and IP switches. Sandburst's HiBeam(R) chipset provides its system vendor clients with a complete packet switching data path for Enterprise and Service Provider applications. A privately held company, Sandburst is financed by leading venture capital investors. Sandburst services the worldwide networking market from its headquarters in Andover, MA. For more information, see http://www.sandburst.com.