Post on 24-Feb-2016
description
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Provide high-speed Network Processors (NPUs)
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PC
The Network Processor (NPU) VisionThe Network Processor (NPU) Vision
NP (Network Platform)
NPUCPU
Network Processor (NPU) is a programmable chip, designed specifically to process packets (data, voice and video) and be used in networking products such as switches and routers.Like Pentium in PCs, Network Processors will eventually be found in all networking products. Furthermore, such products can be based on standard Network Platforms (NPs). EMS (Electronic Manufacturing Services) companies will build and sell the NPs to systems vendors which will add their SW and sell it to their customers.
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NPUs vs. ASICsNPUs vs. ASICs
NPU
Before NPUs became available networking products were built from ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits). With the right price and features NPUs will replace ASICs over time.ASICs are fixed function chips that require very long design cycles and cannot be redesigned quickly enough to keep up with Internet dynamics, such as QoS in carrier class Ethernet.NPUs can be easily programmed to support all Internet requirements, including QoS in carrier class Ethernet products.
Networking Products
ASIC
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Services Cards vs. Line CardsServices Cards vs. Line CardsServices Card
NPU
NPUs are generally more expensive and today are used mostly in services cards – usually one card per box – to provide flexibility and add new features.
Line Cards
ASICs
Whereas the inflexible ASICs are located in cost-sensitive Gigabit Ethernet line cards – usually ten per box.
Can NPUs become more affordable and make the transition into line cards to provide flexibility at the port level?
NPUs
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logiclogic
180nm 150nm 130nm 90nm
Advanced silicon process technology reduces the gate size
logic logic
Can NPUs be Affordable?Can NPUs be Affordable?
But the size of analog I/O pads stays almost unchanged
At 130nm and below EZchip NPUs, like ASICs, are becoming pad-limited with similar die sizes and costs
EZchip die size driven by logic “Core Limited”
EZchip die size driven by pads “Pad Limited”
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NP-3
NP-3 @ 90nm is a complete line card on a chip that will further reduce the cost of carrier class products and with the price points to replace ASICs in core enterprise products as well
NP-2
NP-2 @ 130nm is EZchip’s first step in replacing ASICs on line cards with unlimited flexibility at ASIC cost, targeting carrier
products
EZchip Wins Through IntegrationEZchip Wins Through Integration
NP-1
Search Engines
NPU
Traffic Managers
Ethernet MACs
Fabric Interface
Ethernet Phys
Optics
Line Card
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What the Experts Say: Linley GwennapWhat the Experts Say: Linley Gwennap
Linley GwennapLight Reading, August 2005
“Intel and AMCC are studiously ignoring that high-end market and letting EZchip run away with it”
Linley Gwennap and Bob WheelerA Guide to Network Processors, November 2004
“Startup EZchip has established itself as the leading vendor of 10Gbps NPUs, focusing on metro and high-end enterprise applications……... We expect 10Gbps NPUs to comprise 30% of 2007 NPU revenue, and EZchip could capture half of this revenue.”
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What the Experts Say: George GilderWhat the Experts Say: George Gilder
“EZchip is no longer a venture investment; it is a rip roaring winner, my best pick since Qualcomm.”
“In the world of network processors, EZchip Inside may soon become as ubiquitous as Intel Inside has become in the microprocessor world.”
George GilderGilder Technology ReportOctober 2004
“Show me the Money.”
George GilderGilder Technology ReportAugust 2005
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EZchip’s Background InformationEZchip’s Background Information
EZchip founded in 1999 as a LanOptics (LNOP) spin-off
60% held by LanOptics; LanOptics only asset
EZchip is practically a publicly traded company
Head count – 80; 60 in R&D
EZchip raised over $60M; last $10M closed in July 2005
LanOptics, Goldman Sachs, JK&B, Star and Blue Run
Products
NP-1 – Sampled in April 2002 as a proof of concept
NP-1c – Commercial shipments started in December 2003
NP-2 – Sampled in 6/05, production expected in Q1/06
Customers as of August 2005
Over 60 active design wins; many large systems vendors
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EZchip’s Active Design WinsEZchip’s Active Design Wins
3 7 11 15 20 24
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26
4
24
2
7
23
5
9
22
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11
21
13
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20
17
14
20
23
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20
30
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Q2/02 Q3/02 Q4/02 Q1/03 Q2/03 Q3/03 Q4/03 Q1/04 Q2/04 Q3/04 Q4/04 Q1/05 Q2/05 Q3/05
NP-1c in production NP-1c in design NP-2 in design
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SummarySummary
NP-1 established EZchip as the high-speed NPU leader
Targeting services cards, usually one per box
At <130nm EZchip NPUs and ASICs have similar cost structure
But NPUs are flexible and ASICs are not
NP-2@130nm: First step in replacing ASICs on line cards
Targeting line cards in carrier products, usually 10 per box
NP-3@90nm: A complete line card on a chip
Adding core enterprise line cards
Focus on building our customer base
The large players are Cisco, Huawei, Juniper, Nortel and Alcatel. Three of the five are already NP-2 customers
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System design can be hard or EZSystem design can be hard or EZ
System design can be hard
or EZ