Ethernet Switches feature stackable, single-chip design.

Press Release Summary:



StrataXGS® III 800 Series 10 GbE Switches feature multi-layer switching with IPv4 and IPv6 routing capabilities. ContentAware(TM) engine provides 128 byte deep-packet inspection at wire speed. Offered in 12, 16, 18, and 20 port models, switches include CX4-compliant SerDes, hardware-based denial of service prevention, scalability through HiGig stacking technology, and non-blocking performance, switching more than 300 million packets/sec.



Original Press Release:



Broadcom Introduces Industry's First Stackable High-Density 10 Gigabit Ethernet Switches



New StrataXGS(R) Series Multi-layer Switch Chips Accelerate 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) Adoption in Data Center and Enterprise Networks

IRVINE, Calif., March 20 -- Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ:BRCM), a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced the industry's first stackable 20-port, 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) switch in a single-chip design. The new Broadcom(R) StrataXGS(R) III 800 Series 10GbE switches feature multi-layer switching with IPv4 and IPv6 routing capabilities, and deep-packet inspection with advanced security features. This unprecedented level of integrated functionality, combined with high port density and low power, enables Broadcom to offer a competitive cost structure that, in turn, will drive the adoption of 10GbE in data center and enterprise networks.

The growing demand for advanced multimedia and business applications is driving the need for Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) at the desktop. This demand, combined with the deployment of increasingly powerful servers in the data center, is creating the need for 10GbE connectivity throughout the enterprise network. However, IT managers are experiencing challenges in deploying 10GbE ubiquitously throughout their networks as a result of the high overall cost of deployment for current 10GbE solutions, as well as space, power and cooling concerns of existing network switches. Broadcom's StrataXGS III 800 Series solves these issues by delivering a scalable, high-density 10GbE switch-on-a- chip with extremely low power consumption and the features necessary to enable converged applications.

"In a new report, The Linley Group ranks Broadcom as the runaway leader in merchant GbE switch silicon," said Bob Wheeler, senior analyst at The Linley Group. "With the new technology it is delivering to market now, we expect Broadcom to easily carry this lead into the market for merchant 10GbE switch chips."

"Broadcom's experience in providing Gigabit Ethernet to the world's leading switching companies puts us in a unique position to accelerate the adoption of 10GbE," said Martin Lund, Vice President & General Manager for Broadcom's Network Switching Business Unit. "The StrataXGS III 800 Series provides customers with 10 times the density at a fraction of the cost when compared to previous generation switches, creating a compelling value proposition for companies looking to upgrade their networks to support 10GbE."

Announced today is the StrataXGS III 800 Series, which includes four new products (the BCM56800, BCM56801, BCM56802 and BCM56803). The 800 Series enables traditional stacking of currently deployed GbE switches with new 10GbE switches via Broadcom's HiGig(TM) protocol. It also provides industry leading power consumption of less than 100 milliWatts (mW) per Gigabit per second (Gbps) of power. Broadcom's ContentAware(TM) engine provides 128-byte deep- packet inspection at wire speed. This feature, combined with advanced traffic management capabilities, allows the switch to identify and prioritize network traffic, thereby enabling advanced quality of service (QoS). The StrataXGS III 800 Series also offers IT managers the same features available in current GbE products, but at 10GbE speeds that enable network backbones to upgrade from GbE to 10GbE with no compromise in performance.

The StrataXGS III 800 Series provides a variety of features required for data center, enterprise and advanced TCA (ATCA) markets including:
o Advanced ContentAware multi-layer switching (Layer 2 -- Layer 7)
o CX4-compliant, integrated serializer/deserialzer (SerDes)
o Hardware-based denial of service (DoS) prevention
o Advanced QoS for converged networking applications
o Scalability through robust and field-proven Broadcom HiGig stacking technology
o Non-blocking performance, switching more than 300 million packets per second
o 12-port, 16-port, 18-port and 20-port versions available

Availability
Broadcom's new StrataXGS III 800 Series switch products are currently sampling to customers and feature a mature software API, which is currently supported by multiple third-party software vendors. Volume production of the new 800 Series is anticipated in June 2006. Product pricing is available upon request.

StrataXGS III 800 Series reference designs are also available to help speed time-to-market and include software, schematics, layout files and related documentation.

About Broadcom
Broadcom Corporation is a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications. Our products enable the delivery of voice, video, data and multimedia to and throughout the home, the office and the mobile environment. Broadcom provides the industry's broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on-a-chip and software solutions to manufacturers of computing and networking equipment, digital entertainment and broadband access products, and mobile devices. These solutions support our core mission: Connecting everything(R).

Broadcom, one of the world's largest fabless semiconductor companies with annual revenue of more than $2.5 billion, is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and has offices and research facilities in North America, Asia and Europe. Broadcom may be contacted at 1-949-450-8700 or at www.broadcom.com.

Broadcom(R), the pulse logo, Connecting everything(R), the Connecting everything logo, StrataXGS(R), Content Aware(TM), and HiGig(TM) are among the trademarks of Broadcom Corporation and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

Contact: Trade Press, Gennis Lafayette, Public Relations Manager, +1-408-543-3413, gennisl@broadcom.com, or Technical Contact, John Mui, Product Line Manager, +1-408-922-5638, jmui@broadcom.com

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