Access packet processor puts IP and ATM together

Wintegra is sampling its novel WinPath, the industry's first access packet processor.

Wintegra is sampling its novel WinPath, the industry's first access packet processor.

WinPath is a single-chip solution used by communications equipment vendors in devices such as basestations, media gateways, access multiplexers, service switches and enterprise routers, to handle all the required datapath and control path packet processing functions.

With 18 resident protocols for a ready-to-use solution with rich functionality, WinPath also offers full programming flexibility for customised applications.

Its design incorporates the ideal aspects of four existing silicon approaches, and for the first time, blends them into a single chip.

Wintegra has already signed multiple customers including several top tier names, and is sampling into each of its target markets.

ATM continues to have a stronghold in the access infrastructure market, particularly with its QoS guarantees, even while equipment operators migrate toward IP services such as VPNs and VoIP.

WinPath was designed at the outset to handle the datapath so that ATM and IP can be independently selected as a transport protocol per port, a full set of IP services can be offered over any Layer 2 protocol (ATM, PPP, and Ethernet), and any port can instantly migrate from ATM to IP without hardware changes.

This "any service, any port" feature could not have been accomplished in such a short time without the experience rarely found in one design team - a distinguishing factor noted by other industry and technology experts.

WinPath integrates a "best-in-class" approach from each of four solutions currently being used in the access market, and synthesises them into a single, "Best in Classes" solution.

First, it reflects the integration, cost, power and size of a communications processor, but vastly improves its performance.

Second, it brings the ready-to-use features of application specific standard peripherals, such as ATM port controllers, but allows for a single card to become a platform for many different functions, without any chip modification required.

Third, it offers the datapath programmability of network processors, but provides it in a cost-effective, low-power approach targeted at the needs of the access infrastructure.

And finally, it brings the predictability of custom ASICs into its programmable architecture.

In short, it is the first fully functional ready-to-use chip that allows for customisation - without requiring it.

With these best-in-classes features, customers can migrate to a standard product and lower their risk, without sacrificing one or more of the desired qualities.

"A totally integrated access solution is critical to our customers' success in the access market where cost, space and power have been prohibitive factors in existing packet processing solutions", said Kobi Ben-Zvi, Wintegra's President and CEO.

"Therefore, it was important for us to develop a single-chip solution that addressed more than multiple protocols, and as a result, WinPath is the only single-chip solution in the market that offers every required function: network processing, packet classification, traffic management, layer 2 functions, segmentation, reassembly, and control path microprocessing".

WinPath's RISC control processor features a MIPS 5Kc 64bit core from MIPS Technologies.

A separate WinPath product removes the core and can be used with an external PowerPC bus compatible microprocessor.

Currently there are two WinPath products available: the WIN777 which includes both control and data path functionality, and the WIN770 for datapath only (no MIPS core).

Each product is offered in both 166 and 200MHz versions.

WinPath is based on advanced 0.18-micron CMOS technology from TSMC and is packaged in a 913-lead HSBGA.

Wintegra is currently sampling both versions of WinPath to its beta customers.

It is priced at $250 in lots of 10K, for the 200MHz WIN777 with MIPS core; and $225 for the 200MHz WIN770 without the MIPS core.

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