Switch fabrics provide a method to switch the packets from input ports to output ports. The switch fabric must arbitrate traffic when more than one packet arrives concurrently if both are destined for the same output port. Switch fabrics provide sufficient buffering to handle situations where the packet input rate is greater than the switch fabric’s throughput capability. The two possible locations for buffering are at the input of the switch fabric (input queuing) or internally to the switch fabric (shared‐memory). Switch fabrics control quality of service (QoS). The switch fabric is responsible for receiving data from a line card and routing it to the proper destination. OEMs outsource the fabric to semiconductor suppliers. Switch fabric solutions integrate advanced queuing and scheduling, a serial crossbar, and multiple channels of high‐speed serial link technology in a two‐component fabric chip set.

The multi‐service provisioning platform (MSPP) is an emerging product category specifically designed to address the needs of service providers for reliable transport of data and telecom services between dissimilar networks. New platforms of this type are employing standards‐based packet switching systems designed to transfer voice and data over IP between PSTN, mobile, core and IP networks. Because the access points of a converged network use different protocols for transporting data and voice (that is, ATM, IP, and SONET).

The task of the MSPP is to seamlessly transfer the media streams at port speed between the various network interfaces while supporting QoS guarantees. It is the move to higher layer switching to incorporate QoS along with the higher port speeds (OC‐48, OC‐192) that is driving the need for MSPPs with advanced network processing engines and intelligent switch fabric devices. The intelligent switch fabric devices contain virtual output queuing (VOQ) and prioritized flow control. This supports the ability to provide high‐capacity (160 Gbps), non‐blocked, class of service based switching. Vitesse GigaStream family of switch fabrics is a product in this category.

The ongoing convergence of communications technologies and proliferation of digital media is introducing radical changes to the consumer electronic market. These changes are redefining traditional ideas of what we can expect from familiar products such as televisions, personal computers and cell phones. Advances in semiconductor technology are driving this transformation by bringing capabilities to which we are already accustomed (such as Web browsing, recording video, and getting driving directions) into new device contexts. Markets for switch fabrics at $317 million in 2009 are anticipated to reach $920 million by 2016, growing in response to decreases in unit costs and increases in integrated IC functionality. Some applications are in high growth market segments, including data center consolidation, security, high definition video, and high speed video applications.

Switch fabrics are poised to make people more productive in security environments, help increase productivity with faster desktop access capabilities, and decrease storage seek times. Switch fabric markets are forecast to grow as the quantity of data traversing the Internet grows. The Internet data is doubling every 5 months. Quantities of data are increasing from petabytes per day to exabytes per day. The technology needed to handle this includes switch fabrics. Cloud computing and HD TV represent the most significant market driving forces for growth of switch fabrics.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Switch Fabric Market Description and Market Dynamics 

1.1   Multi-Service Provisioning Platform  

1.1.1    Switching Fabric As A Network Topology

1.1.2    Switch Fabrics for Consumer Electronics 

1.1.3    Wi-Fi In Mobile Devices

1.1.4    Multimedia Center

1.1.5    Coexistence and Interference

1.2   Component Size and Cost

1.3   Switch Fabric Industry Environment

1.3.1    Communications Integrated Circuit Evolution Brought By The Internet

1.3.2    Broadband Transmission Of Digital Information 

1.4   Converged Networks 


2. Switch Fabric: Market Shares and Market Forecasts

2.1   Switch Fabric Market Driving Forces 

2.2   Time-Division Multiplexed (TDM) Time-Slot-I Interchanger (TSI) Switch Fabric Market Shares 

2.3   Ethernet Switch Fabric Market Shares

2.4   Packet Fabrics Market Shares

2.5   Packet Fabric ASIC Proprietary Market Shares

2.6   Selected Market Participant Profiles 

2.6.1    PMC - Sierra 

2.6.2    Broadcom  

2.6.3    AMCC  

2.6.4    Broadcom Switching 

2.6.5    Dune Networks Leads Merchant Switch Fabric Market

2.6.6    Dune Networks 

2.6.7    Vitesse

2.6.8    GigaStream Chip Set from Vitesse Semiconductor

2.6.9    Vitesse TeraStream Chip Set

2.6.10  Marvell Prestera-FX9210 12-Port Crossbar Switch Fabric

2.6.11  Erlang Network Element Technology (ENET) Xe™ Switch Fabric System 

2.7   Switch Fabric Market Forecasts 

2.8   Data Center 

2.9   Carrier and Service Provider

2.10     Enterprise 

2.11     Home and Small Business 

2.12     Enterprise Cloud Computing 

2.13     Cloud Data Centers 

2.13.1  Cloud Computing Buzz 

2.14     Instrumented Digital Devices

2.15     Scalable Symmetric Multiprocessors 

2.15.1  Cloud Computing Database Management Systems 

2.15.2  Building a Robust Data Sensor Network Integration Layer

2.16     Switch Fabric Regional Market Segments 

2.16.1  Switch Fabric Regional Market Participation 


3. Switch Fabric Product Description

3.1       Vitesse 

3.1.1    Vitesse GigaStream® Chip Set Is A High Performance Synchronous Switch Fabric 

3.1.2    Vitesse 80 Gbps Intelligent Swithc Fabric Queuing Engine 

3.1.3    GigaStream Chip Set from Vitesse Semiconductor

3.1.4    Vitesse TeraStream chip set

3.2       PMC Sierra PM5376 TSE™ Nx160 Transmission Switch Element

3.3       Applied Micro

3.3.1    AppliedMicro PRS 5G/C48X Switch Fabric Device 

3.3.2    AMCC PRS Switch Fabric Family Designed into Nortel MPE Platform 

3.4       Broadcom 

3.4.1    Broadcom 24-Port 10-GbE and 4-Port Multilayer Gigabit Ethernet Switch 

3.4.2    Broadcom Switch Fabric BCM56720 

3.4.3    Broadcom Switch Fabric BCM56720 

3.4.4    Broadcom BCM56820 - 24-Port 10-GbE and 4-Port Multilayer Gigabit Ethernet Switch 24-Port 10-GbE and 4-Port Multilayer Gigabit Ethernet Switch 

3.4.5    Broadcom Ethernet Switch Fabrics

3.4.6    Broadcom BCM88130 High Performance Switch Fabric

3.4.7    Broadcom 4-Port 10-GbE/HiGig+™ Multilayer Switch 

3.4.8    BroadcomBCM56511 integrates sophisticated advanced L3 switching

3.4.9    BroadcomContentAware Classification 

3.4.10  BroadcomBCM56511 Built-In Security Functions

3.4.11  Broadcom BCM56511 Integrates Sophisticated Metering, Statistics, And Traffic Management

3.4.12  Broadcom / Dune Networks 

3.4.13  Broadcom / Dune 

3.5       Broadcom 

3.5.1    Broadcom Metropolitan and Wide Area Networking 

3.6       Marvell

3.7       Marvell Prestera-DX Processor Key Features

3.7.1    Marvell Prestera-EX Multi-Layer Enterprise Switching Packet Processors

3.7.2    Marvell Fabric Processors  12-Port Crossbar Switch Fabrics

3.7.3    Marvell Prestera-FX9210 12-Port Crossbar Switch Fabric

3.8       Fujitsu Micro 

3.8.1    CX4 versus Other Technologies

3.9       Fulcrum Microsystems FocalPoint Ethernet Switch and Router Chip Family

3.10     Integrated Device Technologies

3.10.1  Integrated Device Technologies Traffic Manager Family 

3.11     Atera 

3.11.1  Atera Switch Fabric Positioning

3.11.2  Altera Stratix GX Switch Fabric System 

3.11.3  Altera Centralized Switch Fabrics

3.12     Erlang Switch Fabric

3.13     Erlang Switch Fabric Components

3.13.1  Erlang Performance and Attack Type Detections

3.13.2  Erlang Blocking

3.13.3  Erlang Network Element Technology (ENET) SeI-CSIXTM Switch Fabric

3.13.4  Erlang Network Element Technology (ENET)  Xe™ Switch Fabric System 

3.14     Switch Fabric Software

3.15     AMCC

3.16     General Description


4. Switch Fabric Strategy, Technology, And Industry Specific Applications 

4.1       Broadcom Nano Level CMOS Integrated Circuits 

4.2       Upgrading the HD Video Experience with a MoCA-Based Home Network

4.2.1    Evolution Of Home Networks 

4.3       Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA)

4.4       Ethernet Cost Attractiveness 


5. Switch Fabric Company Profiles 

5.1       Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) and Juniper Networks Inc. (Nasdaq: JNPR)

5.2       AppliedMicro 

5.2.1    AppliedMicro Energy Efficient Processors 

5.2.2    AppliedMicro Power Architecture SoCs

5.2.3    Applied Micro Second Quarter Fiscal 2010 Revenue

5.3       Broadcom

5.3.1    Broadcom Semiconductor Technology Innovation

5.3.2    Broadcom Intellectual Property (IP)

5.3.3    Broadcom Revenue

5.3.4    Broadcom Broadband Modems and Residential Gateways 

5.3.5    Broadcom Customers 

5.3.6    Broadcom Digital Cable, Direct Broadcast Satellite and IP Set-Top Boxes 

5.3.7    Broadcom Silicon Platform For High-End Interactive Set-Top Boxes, Supporting The Simultaneous Viewing Of Television Programming With Internet Content

5.3.8    Broadcom DBS Broadcast Solutions 

5.3.9    Broadcom Broadband Satellite Market

5.3.10  Broadcom IP Set-Top Box Solutions 

5.3.11  Broadcom Digital Television

5.3.12  Broadcom DTV Business Of Advanced Micro Devices

5.3.13  Broadcom High Definition Blu-ray Disc Players

5.3.14  Broadcom Local Area Networking 

5.3.15  Broadcom Broadband Processors 

5.3.16  Broadcom / Dune Networks

5.3.17  Dune Switch Fabric Chipsets

5.4       Erlang Technology 

5.5       Integrated Device Technologies 

5.5.1    Fujitsu Revenue 

5.6       Fulcrum Microsystems

5.6.1    Fulcrum Microsystems Nexus® Crossbar

5.6.2    Fulcrum Microsystems RapidArray™ Packet Memory 

5.6.3    Integrated Device Technology, Inc. Revenues 

5.6.4    Integrated Device Technology, Communications Segment

5.6.5    Integrated Device Technology, Computing and Consumer Segment

5.6.6    Integrated Device Technology Regional Revenues

5.6.7    Integrated Device Technology Communications Segment

5.6.8    Integrated Device Technology Telecommunications Products

5.6.9    Integrated Device Technology Computing and Consumer Segment

5.7   Mindspeed

5.7.1    MindSpeed Technologies Semiconductor Networking Solutions 

5.7.2    Mindspeed Signal Conditioning Products

5.7.3    Mindspeed Technologies Pricing and Availability 

5.7.4    Mindspeed(R) Fiscal 2008 Fourth Quarter Revenue

5.7.5    Mindspeed Strategy

5.7.6    Mindspeed Customers 

5.7.7    Mindspeed Capitalizes on the Breadth of Integrated Product Portfolio 

5.8   Netlogic Microsystem / Aeluros Inc.

5.8.1    Netlogic Microsystem / Aeluros

5.8.2    Netlogic Microsystem / Aeluros Operating Segments and Geographic Information

5.8.3    NetLogic Microsystems Announces Third Quarter 2009 Revenue

5.8.4    Netlogic Microsystem / Aeluros Recent Highlights 

5.9   PMC-Sierra

5.10     Sierra Wireless

5.10.1  Sierra Wireless Third Quarter 2009 Results

5.10.2  Sirrra  Revenue 

5.11     STMicroelectronics

5.11.1  STMicroelectronics Product Technologies

5.12     Vitesse 

5.12.1  Vitesse End-user customers

5.12.2  Vitesse Markets 

5.12.3  Vitesse Ethernet Transceivers, Switches, and MACs 

5.12.4  Vitesse Revenues

5.13     Zarlink Semiconductor

5.13.1  Zarlink Communication Products 

5.13.2  Zarlink Medical Products

5.13.3  Zarlink Research and Development

5.13.4  Zarlink Leading Products

5.13.5  Zarlink New Product Thrusts

5.13.6  Zarlink FY2009 Revenue


List of Tables and Figures

Table ES-1  ES-3

Switch Fabric Market Driving Forces 

Figure ES-2  ES-5

Time-Division Multiplexed (TDM) Time-Slot-Interchanger (TSI) Switch Fabric IC Shipments Market Shares, Worldwide, Dollars, First Three Quarters 2009 

Figure ES-3  ES-7

Ethernet Switch Fabric IC Shipments Market Shares, Worldwide, Dollars, First Three Quarters 2009 

Table ES-4  ES-9

Packet Switch Fabric IC Shipments Market Shares, Worldwide, Dollars, First Three Quarters 2009 

Figure ES-5  ES-11

Switch Fabric Market Forecasts, Worldwide, Dollars, 2009-2015 

Table 1-1  1-7

Data-Intensive Computing And Communications Applications and Platforms 

Table 1-2  1-9

Data-Intensive Computing And Communications Devices 

Table 2-1  2-3

Switch Fabric Market Driving Forces 

Figure 2-2  2-5

Time-Division Multiplexed (TDM) Time-Slot-Interchanger (TSI) Switch Fabric IC Shipments Market Shares, Worldwide, Dollars, First Three Quarters 2009 

Table 2-3  2-6

Time-Division Multiplexed (TDM) Time-Slot-Interchanger (TSI) Switch Fabric IC Shipments Market Shares, Worldwide, Dollars, First Three Quarters 2009 

Figure 2-4  2-7

Ethernet Switch Fabric IC Shipments Market Shares, Worldwide, Dollars, First Three Quarters 2009 

Table 2-5  2-8

Ethernet Switch Fabric IC Shipments Market Shares, Worldwide, Dollars, First Three Quarters 2009 

Table 2-6  2-9

Packet Switch Fabric IC Shipments  Market Shares, Worldwide, Dollars, First Three Quarters 2009 

Table 2-7  2-10

Packet Switch Fabric IC Shipments Market Shares, Worldwide, Dollars, First Three Quarters 2009 

Figure 2-8  2-18

Switch Fabric Market Forecasts, Worldwide, Dollars, 2009-2015

Table 2-9  2-19

Switch Fabric Market Forecasts, Worldwide, Dollars,

2009-2015 

Table 2-10  2-23

Competitive Factors In Cloud Computing Markets 

Table 2-11  2-24

Competitive Forces In Cloud Computing Markets 

Table 2-12  2-28

Cloud Computing Forces Driving Adoption 

Table  2-13  2-36

Types of Internet Connected Devices Likely to be Using Mid IR Sensors That Need SOA Software To Achieve Connectivity 

Table  2-13  (Continued) 2-37

Using Mid IR Sensors That Need SOA Software To Achieve Connectivity 

Figure 3-1  3-2

Vitesse GigaStream® Chip Set Is A High Performance Synchronous Switch Fabric 

Table 3-2  3-3

Vitesse GigaStream® Chip Set Is A High Performance Synchronous Switch Fabric Functions 

Table 3-3  3-4

Vitesse GigaStream® Chip Set Is A High Performance Synchronous Switch Fabric Applications 

Vitesse  6

Figure 3-6  3-7

Vitesse Port and Fabric Processing Blocks 

Figure 3-7  3-11

Vitesse Switch Fabric 

Figure 3-8  3-13

Vitesse Switch Fabric Multistage Path Alternatives 

Figure 3-9  3-18

AppliedMicro Switch Fabrics 

Figure 3-10  3-19

AppliedMicro Switch Fabrics 

Table 3-11  3-20

AppliedMicro PRS 5G/C48X Switch Fabric Device Features 

Table 3-12  3-22

AppliedMicro Switch Fabric Applications 

Table 3-13  3-23

AppliedMicro PRS 20G/C192X Switch Fabric Device Features 

Table 3-14  3-24

AppliedMicro PRS 20G/C192X Switch Fabric Device Applications 

Table 3-15  3-25

AppliedMicro PRS 80G Switch Device 

AppliedMicro PRS 5G/C48X Switch Fabric Device Applications  3-27

AppliedMicro PRS Q-80G Features 

Table 3-18  3-29

AppliedMicro PRS Q-80G Switch Device Configuration 

AppliedMicro PRS Q-80G Switch Device Applications 

Figure 3-20  3-33

Broadcom Switch Fabric Architecture for ACTA,

Access, and Embedded Applications 

Broadcom Switch Fabric BCM56720 Features  3-34

Broadcom Switch Fabric BCM56720 Features 

Table 3-23  3-36

Broadcom Switch Fabric BCM56720 Benefits 

Table 3-24  3-37

Broadcom Switch Fabric BCM56720 Benefits 

Figure 3-25  3-39

Broadcom Multiport, Multi Layer Ethernet Switching 

Table 3-26  3-42

Broadcom Multiport Multilayer Ethernet Switching Functions 

Table 3-27  3-43

Multiport Multilayer Ethernet Switching

ContentAware™ Engine Functions 

Table 3-28  3-44

Broadcom Switch Fabric BCM56720 Tunnel Support

Table 3-29  3-45

Broadcom Switch Fabric BCM56720 Service Aware Flow Control

Figure 3-30  3-47

Broadcom Multiport Multilayer Ethernet Switching Fabric 

Table 3-31  3-48

Broadcom Ethernet Switch Fabrics 

Table 3-32  3-49

Broadcom Switch Fabrics 

Table 3-33  3-51

Broadcom BCM88130 System High-Performance Packet Switch

Fabric Functions 

Table 3-34  3-53

Broadcom Switch Fabric Engines provide line-card future-proofing 

Table 3-35  3-54

Streaming Multicast/Broadcast Services for IPTV

Efficient Multicast Capabilities 

Table 3-36  3-55

Broadcom SBX fabric Applicable To The Next-Generation Carrier 

Table 3-37  3-58

Broadcom BCM88130 Systems Operating Characteristics 

Figure 3-38  3-59

Broadcom BCM 130 System Fabric Diagram  

Figure 3-39  3-59

Broadcom BCM 130 System Line Cards and Fabric Cards 

Table 3-40  3-62

Broadcom Four-Port 10-GbE/HiGig+ Multilayer

Switch Features 

Table 3-41  3-64

Broadcom Four-Port 10-GbE/HiGig+ Multilayer

Switch Functions 

Table 3-42  3-65

Broadcom Switch Fabric Enterprise Features 

Table 3-43  3-66

Broadcom Switch Fabric Enterprise Applications 

Table 3-45  3-80

Marvell Prestera-DX Processor Key Features 

Table 3-46  3-82

Marvell Prestera-EX Multi-Layer Enterprise

Switching Packet Key Features 

Figure 3-47  3-99

Integrated Device Technologies Switch Fabric 

Figure 3-49  3-105

Altera Switch Fabric 

Table 3-50  3-106

Altera 16-Port, 256-GBPS HIGIG™/HIGIG2™

Switch Fabric Architecture 

Table 3-51  3-107

Altera 16-Port, 256-GBPS HIGIG™/HIGIG2™

Switch Fabric Features 

Table 3-52  3-108

Altera 16-Port, 256-GBPS HIGIG™/HIGIG2™

Switch Fabric Functions 

Table 3-54  3-115

Erlang Switch Fabric Performance  

Table 3-55  3-116

Erlang Covered Attack Types for Detections –  Erlang Blocking 

Figure 3-57  3-118

Erlang Technology PS2K Architecture 

Table 3-58  3-120

Erlang Network Element Technology (ENET)  SeI-CSIX™ Switch Fabric Advantages 

Table 3-59  3-121

Erlang Network Element Technology (ENET) SeI-CSIX™ Features Switch Fabric 

Figure 3-60  3-123

Erlang Network Element Technology (ENET) Switch Fabric Traffic Configuration 

Table 3-61  3-125

Erlang Network Element Technology (ENET) Xe™

Switch Fabric ENET Xe™ Chipset Key Benefits 

Table 3-62  3-127

Erlang Network Element Technology (ENET) ENET Xe™ Chipset Features 

Figure 5-1  2

Applied MicroCircuits Product Selector Guide 

Figure 5-2

Broadcom Vertical Integration 

Figure 5-3

Broadcom Global Presence 

Figure 5-4

Broadcom Target Markets 

Figure 5-5

Broadcom Diversified Revenue Distribution 

Figure 5-6

Figure 5-7 

Figure 5-8

Broadcom Mobile Platforms Overview

Figure 5-9 

Figure 5-10 

Wireless Connectivity Overview

Figure 5-11

Zarlink Growth Strategy