After furthering their collaborative alliance earlier this year, C-Port and Power X Networks announced the availability of the C-Port C-5 Switch Module for use with the Power X TeraFrame Development Platform. This development environment is designed to enable complete PHY through fabric systems testing prior to actual OEM hardware being available. It also provides optical internet switch and router system designers with a pre-engineered OC-48 reference design directly transferable to chassis-based line card designs common to next-generation, high-performance metro access and edge market equipment.
With this announcement, the C-Port and Power X alliance has now delivered on two fronts. First, both companies were the first to offer a network processor-to-fabric glueless interface with the joint implementation of the CSIX interface between the C-Port C-5 network processor and the Power X TeraChannel fabric. This integrated functionality helps customers developing software applications for the C-5 network processor to fully leverage the unique Quality-of-Service (QoS) capabilities and protocol- independence of the Power X TeraChannel switch fabric. Second, networking OEMs can now test and tune their complete systems software using the TeraFrame Development Platform and rely on proven hardware reference designs to aid in their hardware development efforts.
The joint development environment will be made available to customers in multiple forms. The first is a comprehensive reference design kit that includes layout schematics, parts lists, control software and reference application code to allow customer implementation of the line card to their own specific system design. The second is the C-5 Switch Module engineered for use in the Power X TeraFrame Development Platform. This hardware includes the SC200A Port Interface Card (available from Power X), which provides the fabric interface hardware, and the C-5 Switch Module -- PX (available from C- Port), which provides the network processor hardware. Each card is expected to be available for order in June 2001. The TeraFrame Development Platform is available now.
C-Port's technologies, such as the C-5 Network Processor, are part of Motorola's Smart Networks Platform. This platform comprises microprocessor technology, software, alliances, and robust development tools that enable networking OEMs to build smarter networking systems faster than ever before. Key to the platform approach is the Smart Networks Alliance Program, which includes more than 200 vendors, such as Power X, that are working with Motorola to develop integrated, powerful networking solutions. By leveraging these alliances, networking OEMs can enhance their ability to deliver breakthrough products quickly and more cost-effectively.
About Power X:
Power X Networks is a privately owned silicon-and-development systems vendor with main offices in Manchester, England (Power X Ltd.), and San Jose, CA (Power X Networks, Inc.). For more information, visit www.powerxnetworks.com.
About C-Port and Motorola:
C-Port Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Motorola, Inc., with main offices in North Andover, MA, and is focused on radically improving the networking industry's ability to develop, deploy, and provision communications services. For more information, visit www.cportcorp.com.