Vitesse Breaks the Switch Integration Barrier; Delivers World's Only Integrated 16- and 24-port Gigabit Ethernet Switch System-on-a-Chip with PHYs.

CAMARILLO, Calif. -- Unprecedented Level of Integration Reduces External Component Count by over 50%; Lowers Power Requirements, and Minimizes System Costs Without Sacrificing Advanced QoS Features

Vitesse Semiconductor Corp. (NASDAQ:VTSS), the market leader in Gigabit Ethernet ICs, continues to raise the value-performance bar by today announcing the sampling of the world's only 16- and 24-port Gigabit Ethernet Switches with eight integrated PHYs and an embedded V-Core(TM) processor. This ground-breaking integration, once again, provides OEMs and ODMs a feature rich, System-on-a-Chip (SoC) solution that not only reduces the number of required active components in their existing web-managed smart switch systems designs, but continues to make good on the promises of next-generation security, Quality of Service (QoS), and savings for which the Vitesse brand has become so well known.

The delivery of the 16-port SparX-G16 and the 24-port SparX-G24 devices marks the next-step in the on-going evolution of fully integrated, Layer 2 Gigabit Ethernet switch IC and SoC solutions pioneered by Vitesse. As with other Vitesse SoCs already in full production, they deliver advanced QoS features such as Differentiated Service Code Point (DSCP) remarking, which permits enterprise network managers and service providers to more accurately manage the priority of traffic based on service agreements with their customers. This functionality also decreases the threat of internal and external security breaches through packet filtering based on Source IP, ARP, and TCP/UDP filters; in addition, the devices offer flexible and configurable rate shaping for both ingress and egress directions to enable enforcement of pre-negotiated bandwidth levels, and up to 8K IP Multicast group entries for applications such as video distribution.

All this functionality is available at highly compelling prices designed to meet the ever cost-conscious demands of today's fluid market. Packing a versatility punch to go along with their sophisticated capabilities, the SparX(TM) devices perform equally well in applications for the Small Office Home Office (SOHO), Small-Medium Business (SMB), and Small-Medium Enterprise (SME) desktop switches, as well as consumer wireless and DSL broadband routers.

Best-in-Class Integration Minimizes System Cost While Enhancing Performance

Optimized for applications where high port density, low cost, and flexible QoS are required, use of the SparX-G16 and SparX-G24 drastically simplifies the designs of systems that would be otherwise burdened with external CPUs, additional external PHYs, and multi-component line termination schemes.

Their value-added features, such as packet filtering, fine granularity rate shaping, rich entries of IP Multicast and processor-based address learning, exceed current Web Smart switch requirements, providing OEMs and ODMs with advanced features without requiring what, up to now, has meant a costly jump to enterprise class silicon. This is achieved through the on-chip V-Core processor which reduces the per instruction clock cycles from 12 to 4 compared with a traditional 8051 processor. This, in turn, eliminates the need for an external CPU altogether.

To illustrate the board and cost savings achieved when using the integrated switch-plus-copper-PHY technology of the SparX devices, an engineer developing a 24-port design that would traditionally require a seven or eight chip solution along with additional power and ground plane provisions, would only need one SparX-G24 IC and two Vitesse Octal PHYs to deliver the same design. In addition to saving money, it drastically shortens time-to-market.

"Twice this year, Vitesse has delivered technologically advanced Gigabit Ethernet Switch System IC solutions to support the evolving requirements of the industry's leading OEMs and ODMs. First with the fully integrated 5- and 8-port Gigabit Ethernet Switch ICs, and now with the world's first 16-and 24-port devices with integrated Octal PHYs," said Claus Stetter, SparX product line director for Vitesse's Ethernet Products Division. "The sampling of these Switch SoCs cements Vitesse's leadership in the fastest growing switch segment: Gigabit Smart Switch for the Small and Medium Business and Enterprise markets."

Functionality That Matters Most to the SOHO, SMB, and SME Markets

The SparX devices offer unmatched, sophisticated QoS features, including four queues per port with per-queue traffic shaping and policing, IPv4 and IPv6 classification capabilities, and the ability to carry consumer-quality VoIP. Other features include 802.1x authentication, Layer 2 through Layer 4 link aggregation, and VLAN support, including Q-in-Q double VLAN tagging, and wire-speed MAC address learning.

Additionally, these devices include all keystone features and benefits of the SparX series of single-chip SoCs such as:

--Industry-leading low power requirements: Less than 600 mW per port. Each integrated 10/100/1000 BASE-T PHY and Switch port dissipates approximately 25% less power overall than the competition's multi-chip solutions.

--Reduction in the number of voltage supply rails to only two (half of what competitive solutions require). This dramatically lowers the cost for the system power supply circuitry and enables the use of fewer PCB layers in the design overall.

--Elimination of the need for external CPUs and memory through the integration of Octal PHYs, switch fabric, MACs, buffer memory, and 8051 compatible processor. This achieves a 50% component reduction over competing solutions. It simplifies designs and reduces product time-to-market.

Availability and Pricing

Currently sampling to customers worldwide, the VSC7389 (16-port) and VSC7390 (24-port) Switch SoCs are available in low cost, PBGA (plastic ball grid array) packaging. Budgetary volume pricing is $48 USD for the 16-port device and $64 USD for the 24-port.

About the Gigabit Ethernet Products Division

Vitesse is the pre-eminent supplier to OEMs designing tomorrow's new wave broadband products. With the industry's most far-reaching offering of tightly integrated, ultra-low power Gigabit Ethernet devices, and a staunch commitment to Gigabit Ethernet, the company continues to set the pace of innovation across market sectors.

About Vitesse

Vitesse designs, develops, and markets a diverse portfolio of high-performance, cost-competitive semiconductor solutions for communications and storage networks worldwide. Engineering excellence and dedicated customer service distinguish Vitesse as an industry leader in Gigabit Ethernet LAN, Ethernet-over-SONET, Advanced Switching, Fibre Channel, Serial Attached SCSI, Optical Transport, and other applications. Vitesse innovation empowers customers to deliver superior products for Enterprise, Access, Metro, and Core applications. Additional company and product information is available at www.vitesse.com.

Vitesse is a registered trademark and V-Core and SparX are trademarks in the United States and/or other jurisdictions of Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation. All other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective holders.

Note to media: Additional technical information is available at http://www.vitesse.com/products/product.php?number=VSC7390