PMC-Sierra, Inc. (PMCS)

[Burpzilla]

PMC-Sierra Demonstrates 6.25 Gigabit SERDES Technology and Evaluation Platform for Next Generation Networking Backplanes

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 2, 2004--

Today at DesignCon, PMC-Sierra, Inc. announced that it is showing the PM8359 QuadPHY(R) 6G SERDES transceiver technology and evaluation platform at Molex, Inc.'s Booth #200. The QuadPHY 6G is the industry's first multi-gigabit serial backplane transceiver to be compliant with the Optical Internetworking Forum's (OIF) 6 Gbit/s long-reach specification. The device's low power CMOS technology provides superior signal integrity to enable greater system reliability for high-speed backplanes in next generation Ethernet switches, networked storage systems, performance computers and service provider equipment (see Figure 1). PMC-Sierra's QuadPHY 6G evaluation platform enables networking equipment manufacturers to develop and test next generation backplane designs and thereby reduce OEM system development time and cost (see Figure 2).

6 Gigabit SERDES Compliant with OIF Industry Specification

The QuadPHY 6G is the industry's first device to be compliant with the Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) Common Electrical I/O (CEI) 6+ Long Reach specification (Draft 4.0). CEI 6+ defines the requirements for driving gigabit-serial signals across a backplane at extended distances and at higher data rates.

"The OIF, recognizing the market acceptance of the High Speed Backplane Initiative (HSBI) mission to support legacy backplanes, realized that specifications for 6+ Gigabit per second electrical signaling were necessary. Its industry importance and commercial implications are being recognized by our membership, as shown by PMC-Sierra's announcement," said Steve Joiner, OIF Technical Committee Chair.

"PMC-Sierra's QuadPHY 6G enables customers to upgrade their current backplanes to support higher data rates while maintaining backward compatibility with installed line cards," said Mark Stibitz, vice president and general manager of PMC-Sierra's Enterprise and Storage Division. "PMC-Sierra's CMOS SERDES products are designed to meet or exceed networking reliability standards by achieving market leading signal integrity over an industry standard interface."

Innovative Low Power Design Enables Improved System Reliability with Industry Compatibility

The QuadPHY 6G multiplexes and demultiplexes eight 3.125 Gbit/s serial links into four 6.25 Gbit/s serial links (see Figure 3). To achieve system reliability at these speeds, design focus on bit error rate performance is required. Utilizing an innovative adaptive decision feedback equalization (DFE) design ensures robust serial link operation designed for a market leading bit error rate as low as 10E-18. PMC-Sierra's adaptive DFE allows the QuadPHY 6G to deploy industry standard NRZ binary signaling at 6.25 Gbit/s data rates. With half rate and quarter rate operation modes, the QuadPHY 6G provides electrical signaling as well as rate compatibility to connect to customer's install base of legacy line cards.

PMC-Sierra's Evaluation Platform and Molex's Reference Backplane Demonstrator Support Multiple Industry Applications

PMC-Sierra's QuadPHY 6G evaluation platform and Molex's GbX(TM) reference backplane demonstrator (see Figure 4) enable a wide variety of network equipment applications, including:

-- Ethernet switches for 3.125 Gbit/s XAUI multiplexing

-- Storage switches and systems including Fibre Channel, iSCSI, SATA and SAS gigabit serial storage

-- Servers and performance computing including multiplexing of emerging serial bus standards such as PCI-Express, serial RapidIO, and Infiniband

-- SONET/SDH service provider equipment

"Molex is delivering evaluation backplanes with 6+ Gbit/s GbX connectors," said David Brunker, Technical Fellow Molex, Inc. "PMC-Sierra's evaluation platform and Molex's reference demonstrator backplane enable rapid 6 Gbit/s backplane technology and interoperability testing to prove the robustness of next generation backplane solutions."

Pricing, Availability and Customer Support

Engineering samples of the QuadPHY 6G SERDES are available now and priced at $250. The QuadPHY 6G is designed with 0.13 micron CMOS technology and packaged in a 19x19 mm 320-pin Flip Chip Ball Grid Array (FCBGA) assembly. PMC-Sierra's comprehensive design support package includes an evaluation kit, board layout and design documentation, VHDL source code, configuration scripts, application notes and user manual (see Figure 4). PMC-Sierra's QuadPHY 6G evaluation kit is priced at $4,900 per unit and is available today; the Molex reference backplane demonstrator is sold separately. For comprehensive product datasheets and evaluation kits, please contact PMC-Sierra at [e-mail] or visit www.pmc-sierra.com/serdes.

About PMC-Sierra

PMC-Sierra(TM) is a leading provider of high speed broadband communications and storage semiconductors and MIPS-based(TM) processors for Enterprise, Access, Metro Optical Transport, Storage Area Networking and Wireless network equipment. The company offers worldwide technical and sales support, including a network of offices throughout North America, Europe and Asia. The company is publicly traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the PMCS symbol and is included in the S&P 500 Index. For more information, visit www.pmc-sierra.com.

About Molex, Inc.

Molex Incorporated is a 65-year-old global manufacturer of electronic, electrical and fiber optic interconnection systems. Based in Lisle, Illinois, USA, the company operates 55 manufacturing facilities in 19 countries. The Molex Website address is www.molex.com.

Attachments

Figure 1: QuadPHY 6G Application Example


Figure 2: QuadPHY 6G Signal Integrity Evaluation Platform available at www.pmc-sierra.com/pressRoom/pr/images/20040202_pr_figure2.jpg

Figure 3: QuadPHY 6G Product Photo available at www.pmc-sierra.com/pressRoom/photos/hi-res/SERDES_QuadPHY_6G_300dpi_CHIP_ONLY.jpg

Figure 4: QuadPHY 6G Evaluation Platform with Molex Reference Backplane Demonstrator


(C) Copyright PMC-Sierra, Inc. 2004. All rights reserved. QuadPHY is a registered trademark of PMC-Sierra. PMC-Sierra, PMCS, PMC, "Thinking you can build on" are trademarks of PMC-Sierra, Inc. GbX is a trademark of Teradyne, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of the respective owners.