MosChip, IdealBT to offer NAS network appliance processor and system software solution

SANTA CLARA, USA: MosChip Semiconductor Technology Ltd., a leading provider of high performance connectivity solutions for consumer, industrial and computing applications, has entered into a technology partnership with IdealBT Technology Corp. to bring to market a complete system solution for network attached storage (NAS) applications.

MosChip’s System-on-a-Chip (SoC) devices cover a myriad of NAS design requirements while IdealBT’s embedded Linux-based software has been designed into numerous functional, versatile, high-performance, and reliable NAS solutions.

MosChip’s family of SoC network appliance processors (NAP) for NAS includes the MCS8140, MCS8142 and MCS8144. They are based on an enhanced ARM9 processor designed to deliver best in class performance with complete system solutions, including evaluation systems, support for Linux and Win CE operating systems, firmware and application level software to enable quick time to revenue. The offering enables immediate production, reduces design time and design investments while effectively controlling bill-of-materials costs.

The devices are highly integrated NAPs with Gigabit Ethernet, PCIe, USB, DDR-II memory interface and other key features supported. With advanced CPU performance, support for compute intensive applications without compromising system
performance is made possible. PCIe can be supported in single or dual mode for scalable performance.

The devices can also provide a point-to-point link to each device on the system bus, low latency, and Quality of Service (QoS) to enable guaranteed bandwidth. Additional external WLAN and storage options are also supported through the USB
and PCIe interfaces. Gigabit Ethernet support comes with hardware acceleration enabling TCP/IP/UDP. Segmentation off-load and IP Checksum off-load allows higher performance at optimal CPU load.

Combined with IdealBT’s system software based on embedded Linux, system designers will find MosChip’s devices ideal as a processor to enable system processing, networking connectivity, to support additional devices through USB, and to support display-based devices. IdealBT’s system software provides basic NAS functions, advanced services and tools. Basic functionalities include LAN and system support; user and folder management; and multilanguage support.

Services supported include: FTP, Samba support; BT; UPnP AV; iTunes®, backups; and printer functions. Tools offered will include: restart, HDD formatting; firmware upgrades; configuration saves; factory default settings; login settings; email sending; and a system log. There is also the ability for UI and functions customizations, mass production tools and NAS discovery tools. MosChip and IdealBT’s combined solutions are aimed at supporting MosChip’s MCS8142 and MCS8144 devices.

“Our embedded Linux platforms are ideal for a wide range of NAS solutions and provide advanced system software
capabilities to expedite time to market,” commented William Chiu, CEO for IdealBT Technology Corp. “Our partnership with MosChip will help embedded NAS designers in their efforts to reduce design time and costs while still bringing to market the strong NAS solutions demanded by end customers.”

“Today’s embedded designers are looking for more than just a device that can do NAS functions,” added Vamshi Kandalla, VP of Marketing for MosChip Semiconductor. “It is important to also offer the option of providing a complete embedded solution. In this way, time to market and revenue can be expedited. Our partnership with IdealBT is centered on this theme for a variety of Linux-based high performance NAS solutions.”