The embedded PowerPC gives manu-
facturers the flexibility to support custom
functions, such as enhanced frame
processing, configuration, box manage-
ment, and high-layer protocol. The
integrated PCI interface enables
connection to new peripheral devices to
help meet customer needs.
A foundation for product
differentiation
The combination of programmability and
coprocessor hardware forms the
foundation for building product differen-
tiation. NP4GS3-based products can
enforce hundreds of rules with complex
ranges and multiple-action types. In
addition, the NP4GS3 supports hard-
ware-managed, software-configured
bandwidth allocation control for thou-
sands of concurrent communication
flows, thereby relieving administrators
from having to predict dozens of
thresholds on the basis of momentary or
assumed traffic patterns. It also offers
innovative flow control, based on stability
theory, that enables a network processor
to withstand higher rates of temporary
oversubscriptions without TCP collapse,
compared with network processors
implementing commonly used random-
early-discard methods.
On-chip support for diverse
protocols
The NP4GS3’s multiplexed MACs can
simplify designs for diverse protocols
and enable more compact and lower-
power products. The NP4GS3 supports
40 10/100 Mb Ethernet ports or 4 gigabit
Ethernet ports. Alternatively, it can
support 4 OC-12 POS, 16 OC-3 POS or
link aggregate POS ports. In Ethernet
applications, the NP4GS3 supports IEEE
802.3ad link aggregation, IEEE 802.1q
VLAN detection, and jumbo frames
(up to 9,022 bytes).
An architecture designed
for growth
The scalable IBM PowerNP NP4GS3
architecture allows you to grow solutions
to match increasing requirements. The
NP4GS3 can operate standalone, or two
devices can be interconnected using
on-chip DASL connections to double
G522-0157-00
*07G522015700*
port quantity and aggregate BW
(speed). For large switch applications,
up to 64 NP4GS3s can be attached to
a switch fabric through the DASL
connections.
Comprehensive enablement
environment helps improve
time to market
The robust IBM PowerNP NP4GS3
reference platform can help expedite
hardware design and software develop-
ment, integration, and testing. The
NP4GS3 software tools are available for
Windows, Solaris, and Linux environ-
ments and include an assembler, full-
function simulator, GUI debugger, test
case generator, and demonstration
picocode and test case scripts. The
NP4GS3 simulation environment
supports a distributed software model
and enables flexible testing configura-
tions for software unit test through
system test prior to hardware being
available. The tools enable rapid
development and deployment of new
services which the service provider can
deploy in the field as a software upgrade
without a change in hardware availability.
IBM is a charter member of the CPIX
Common Programming Interface Forum,
which has as its goal providing stan-
dards for network processor application
code. IBM participation in CPIX helps
ensure compliance with emerging
industry standards.
IBM Microelectronics provides vertically
integrated, advanced technology
solutions that help you realize the full
potential of your communications,
consumer, and data processing applica-
tions. IBM engineers can provide board
and chip design, firmware development,
device driver design and code, design
verification, and other services that
differentiate your products and help
accelerate your time to market. We back
our products with an extensive network
of skill, experience and services
provided through our worldwide design
centers and advanced assembly
facilities in North America, Europe,
and Asia.
For more information, visit our website at
ibm.com
/chips.
Copyright IBM Corporation 2000
All Rights Reserved
Printed in the United States of America 9-00
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Business Machines Corporation in the United States,
or other countries, or both:
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All information contained in this document is subject
to change without notice. The products described in
this document are NOT intended for use in
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The information contained in this document does
not affect or change IBM's product specifications or
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