Switch aids migration to high-performance PCIe

The PLX PEX 8517 PCIe switch further enhances the usability of PCIe technology in networking, storage and graphics applications.

PLX Technology has announced the PLX PEX 8517, a PCIe switch that further enhances the usability of PCIe technology in networking, storage and graphics applications.

The newest member of PLX's ExpressLane line of PCIe switching and bridging devices providing designers with a migration path to high-performance PCIe, the PEX 8517 features five ports, 16 lanes and a streamlined second-generation switching architecture.

The switch brings lower latency (150ns), improved throughput, reduced per-port and per-lane costs, and lower power (3W maximum) to a broad range of designs.

New PCI-based designs and those migrating from first-generation PLX PCIe switches can take advantage of PLX's new packet-cut-through switching architecture in port-aggregation and peer-to-peer applications.

The device's five flexible ports allow it to be configured in a variety of ways suitable to enable a range of designs.

This new architecture also delivers many of the key features from PLX's first-generation architecture: quality of service through two virtual channels (VCs); dual-host support through a flexible nontransparent port; field upgradeability through a standard hot plug controller; and source-to-destination data integrity through end-to-end-cyclic-redundancy (ECRC).

Furthermore, in addition to the basic error reporting, the PEX 8517 supports advanced error reporting, thus easing system development, debug and optimisation.

"The PEX 8517 switch signifies another step in the migration from conventional PCI and PCI-X to PCI Express, and reflects PLX's ongoing commitment to making that migration as smooth and economical as possible with the largest portfolio of PCIe products for a broad spectrum of applications", said Akber Kazmi, Product Marketing Director at PLX.

"With PEX 8517, PLX is both building on the success of five previously announced switches in the ExpressLane line and providing another high-performance device to the expanding PCI Express user community to develop and streamline their next-generation products".

The switch's two VCs allow optimal use of each port's bandwidth and improve performance in systems by enabling a particular traffic class to receive priority in available bandwidth.

The PEX 8517's nontransparent bridging (NTB) function enables processor-domain isolation, which is required in multi-host, fail-over, intelligent I/O, and load-sharing applications.

Combined with its NTB, hot plug capabilities, internal memory error corrections and end-to-end packet error detection make the PEX 8517 suitable for high-availability applications.

The PEX 8517 already has passed compliance testing in the PCI Special Interest Group (PCI-SIG) workshop programme, and is now on the PCI-SIG's Integrators List.

This list includes all products that have successfully completed testing in the PCI-SIG's Compliance Workshop, which provides an environment for PCI-SIG members to test and validate their products before they reach market.

The PEX 8517, as are most PLX interconnect devices, is supported by the PLX rapid development kit (RDK) line of tools that speed board and system designs.

The PEX 8517RDK kit includes a working hardware platform incorporating the PEX 8517 switch, along with a complete set of board schematics, symbols, and layout files for hardware design.

The RDK, which also can be utilised as an evaluation vehicle for the PEX 8517, also features PLX's extensive software development kit with a GUI utility for access to chip registers, sample drivers and a support library for Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems.

The introduction of the PEX 8517 further extends PLX's leadership position as the supplier of the industry's broadest array of PCIe switches and bridges, which have been production-released or are in general sampling.

This breadth of PCIe products is enabling board and system manufacturers worldwide to choose the devices that meet their specific requirements in graphics, server, storage, industrial control, and communications applications.

The PEX 8517 comes in a 27x27 PBGA package and is now sampling, with production expected in Q3 2006.

Available in both standard and lead-free packages, the device is priced at under $30 in volume quantities.

The PEX 8517RDK is available now and is priced at $900.

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