Science & Technology
Science and Technology
Science and Technology
Mon, February 23, 2009 PLX Technology Now Sampling PCI Express Switches Showcasing Integrated DMA
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--PLX Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLXT), the leading global supplier of PCI Express® (PCIe®) switch and bridge silicon, today announced the sampling of three PCIe switch devices whose unique architecture features integrated direct memory access (DMA) engines and multicast capabilities. The ExpressLane™ PEX 8619 (16 lanes, 16 ports), PEX 8615 (12 lanes, 12 ports) and PEX 8609 (eight lanes, eight ports) PCIe Gen 2-compliant switches are now available to help improve system performance by enhancing current DMA usage and providing additional cost savings by removing the DMA burden from processors and/or endpoints. Each PLX switch provides four DMA channels to support the high data rates required in the storage systems, servers, networking, control plane, and embedded systems markets.
The DMA engine in the PLX devices can also be used to perform the multicast function. The advantages for implementing a DMA-based multicast scheme include support for an unlimited number of multicast groups (each descriptor ring represents a multicast group), a reliable multicast scheme (status for each copy made can be provided by a DMA engine), that multicast transfers are not limited to posted transactions, and most importantly, DMA-based multicast from PLX provides a PCIe multicast solution today.
The addition of multicast in PCIe devices is being addressed today within the PCI Special Interest Group (PCI-SIG®) in the form of an engineering change notice (ECN) to the PCIe 2.0 specification. The ECN describes the function of multicast, which enables the PCIe switch to send a single packet to many destinations simultaneously, thus dramatically reducing latency and increasing the effective throughput of a system.
"Processor and chipset makers have been implementing DMA as part of their efforts to increase system performance for years in markets such as embedded control planes, enterprise storage and computing," said Sergis Mushell, principal research analyst, Gartner Research. "Dynamic memory access technology has proven itself and the integrated PLX solution within the PCI Express switch should find wide acceptance in the design community."
"Using the DMA engine in the PLX PCI Express switch provides an efficient and attractive alternative to implementing multicast until the multicast function becomes natively available in ramping PCIe switches," said Krishna Mallampati, director of PCIe switch marketing, PLX. "The multicast function described in the ECN can be implemented today using the DMA engines available in PLX's industry-first PCI Express switches with integrated DMA."
Pricing and Availability
The PEX 8619, PEX 8615 and PEX 8609 are sampling today with volume prices at $28.55, $22.25 and $14.25, respectively. PLX's PCIe switches provide board and system designers with the industry's most extensive and proven lineup of products ranging in density from three to 16 ports and from four to 48 lanes. For detailed information on the entire ExpressLane switch family, please visit [ www.plxtech.com/pcie ] or contact sales at [ www.plxtech.com/contact ].
Press Graphics
A downloadable high-resolution press graphic is at [ www.plxtech.com/prgraphic ].
About PLX
PLX Technology, Inc. ([ www.plxtech.com ]), based in Sunnyvale, Calif., USA, is a leading global supplier of high-performance, feature-rich, system-interconnect semiconductors, SoC and software solutions for the communications, storage, server, compute, embedded-control, and consumer markets. The Company provides a competitive advantage through an integrated combination of experience, innovative silicon, powerful design tools, and synergetic global partnerships. These unmatched PLX solutions are based on established technologies including PCI Express, USB, SATA, Ethernet, and FireWire that enable our customers to develop equipment with industry-leading performance, scalability, security, and reliability, and bring their designs to market faster.
ExpressLane, PLX Technology and the PLX Technology logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of PLX Technology, Inc.All other product names that appear in this material are for identification purposes only and are acknowledged to be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
