Vitesse Introduces 2.5Gb/s Pointer Processor and 40Gb/s TSI Switch; TimeStream Chipset Delivers OC-3 to OC-192 SONET/SDH STS-1 Traffic Grooming.

Business Editors/Technology Writers

CAMARILLO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 6, 2000

Vitesse Semiconductor Corp. (Nasdaq:VTSS) today introduced the VSC9184 2.5Gb/s SONET/SDH Pointer Processor and the VSC9182 40Gb/s 768x768 STS-1 Time Slot Interchange (TSI) switch.

These two integrated circuits (ICs) are the first in the TimeStream(TM) family of products that support up to OC-768 pointer processing, scalable STS-1 switching fabrics and integrated backplane transceivers. These devices perform grooming of time division multiplexing (TDM) signals and provide a complete solution for TDM traffic management for SONET/SDH equipment with OC-3 to OC-192 optical interfaces.

Fiber speeds within the network core reach 10Gb/s using existing STS-192/STM-64 transmission equipment, but some connections must be provisioned at granularities ranging down to the DS-3 (44.7Mb/s) level.

Next generation SONET/SDH switching and grooming equipment must support large numbers of high-speed fiber interfaces while providing switching functionality that extends from DS-3 to wavelength speeds in a cost-effective, space-efficient manner.

The TimeStream product line addresses these needs by providing DS-3 level grooming capability not available in today's more common "wavelength" grooming chipsets while giving the system designer a scalable end-to-end solution for constructing a system with up to 64 OC-48 ports using a single layer switch fabric, or densities of up to 1024 OC-48 ports using a three layer Clos architecture.

Since the VSC9184 and VSC9182 were designed to interface directly and scale with each other, they also provide a low-power, smaller-space and cost-effective solution by eliminating the need for external backplane components and complex clock and frame sync distribution.

"The VSC9184 and VSC9182 enable a less expensive, lower power and more integrated TDM grooming solution than any competing solution announced or available today," stated Andrew Schmitt, product marketing manager. "These products are the first to integrate the backplane interface as well as provide the ports for working and protection switch fabrics," continued Schmitt.

VSC9184 Pointer Processor

The VSC9184 supports any combination of STS-1/AU-3 to STS-48c traffic, providing flexibility in system design and scalability. It supports a single OC-48 port or four soft programmable serial OC-3/12 ports and supports direct connectivity to the VSC9182.

Integrated into the VSC9814 are eight 622MHz backplane transceiver ports with on board deskew and data recovery, eliminating the need for backplane transceivers and allowing a seamless interface with up to four sets of "working" and "protection" VSC9182 devices.

Also integrated are 48x96 and 96x48 STS-1 TSI switches for grooming traffic to the protection interfaces. Section and line termination is performed on all ports as well as B3 path error monitoring. Four VSC9184 devices can be used in conjunction with Vitesse's VSC9116 OC-192 Interleaver/Deinterleaver for an immediate OC-192 port card solution.

VSC9182 -- TSI Switch

The VSC9182 is a 768x768 STS-1 TSI switch fabric with built-in backplane transceivers that support both multicast and broadcast transmissions. The 64 622MHz I/O's of the VSC9182 have on board data recovery and realignment for synchronous switching within the TSI core.

For additional flexibility, the VSC9182 can be hitlessly reconfigured and cascaded into Clos architectures to allow switch fabrics of up to 1024x1024 OC-48 ports -- a requirement in today's high port density environment.

Both devices use STS-12 type 622MHz backplane protocols, allowing integration into many existing systems. B1 parity and SONET/SDH scrambling are used on backplane interfaces to provide solid connection integrity and A1/A2 frame boundaries provide alignment functionality. These ICs are compliant with SONET and SDH requirements as stated in ANSI T1.105, Bellcore GR-253-CORE and ITU-T G.707 documents.

Manufacturers of SONET/SDH cross-connect equipment can use the TimeStream product family to build systems entirely out of standard products and avoid developing ASICs, allowing rapid delivery of optical networking equipment to the marketplace. This product line demonstrates Vitesse's continued focus on providing a true end-to-end solution by delivering chipsets designed to address total system functionality.

Future TimeStream devices will support monolithic OC-192 pointer processing, larger switch fabrics and integrated 2.5Gb/s serial interfaces. Also available this year are chipsets designed to interface existing customer ASIC solutions into the high port density TimeStream environment.

The VSC9182 is available in a thermally enhanced 480 BGA package. It is priced at $495 in quantities of 1,000, with samples available in June and production quantities available in August. The VSC9184 is provided in a 474 BGA package and is priced at $295 in quantities of 1,000, with samples available in August and production quantities available in October.

Vitesse Semiconductor is the leading designer and supplier of innovative, high-performance semiconductors utilizing state-of-the-art processes for the manufacturers of next generation DWDM and optical networking communications equipment. Vitesse also develops storage area networking ICs and enclosure management products that monitor and communicate critical reliability and availability information.

The company's products address the needs of Core, Access, Optical and Enterprise network equipment manufacturers who demand a combination of high speed, high complexity and low power dissipation. Vitesse has headquarters in Camarillo, and operates two fabrication facilities in Camarillo and Colorado Springs, Colo.

Company/product information can be found on the Web at www.vitesse.com.