Network Processor Melds Four Chips

Said to reduce development costs by up to 50%, the PayloadPlus APP540 network processor integrates four separate devices: a programmable traffic manager, multi-field classifier search engine, network processor, and Ethernet media access controller (MAC). Classification, traffic management, and network processing functions work in unison with separate and inter-dependent functions. The traffic manager supports true bandwidth and delay and guarantees up to 8,192 queues or more of individually scheduled streams of traffic. The classifier determines what is done with the voice, data, or video information and the network processor obeys processing and forwarding directions the classifier gives it. Measuring about one fourth the size of a credit card, the device can process information at speeds up to 5 Gb/s. The APP520 chip, essentially the same device as the APP540 but aimed at lower-cost applications, is also available. Sampling in April, the APP540 and APP520 cost $295 and $195, respectively, each/10K. AGERE SYSTEMS, Allentown, PA. (800) 372-2447.