Vitesse speeds green transition for SMB and enterprise apps

CAMARILLO, USA: Vitesse Semiconductor Corp., a leading provider of advanced IC solutions for Carrier and Enterprise networks, has introduced its new SparX-III family (VSC7420, VSC7421, and VSC7422), the industry’s first Gigabit Ethernet (GE) switches with up to 12 integrated PHYs and EcoEthernet 2.0 technology.

SparX-III facilitates design of “green-enabled” Ethernet SMB and Enterprise switching equipment with substantially lower power consumption and higher density.

With 50-percent higher integration than the leading GE switch competitor, the VSC7422 delivers the industry’s only two-chip, 25-port GE switch solution when paired with the SimpliPHY VSC8512, Vitesse’s recently announced 12-port Gigabit Ethernet PHY with dual media copper and fiber support.

Both devices include Vitesse’s EcoEthernet 2.0 technology to deliver unprecedented energy efficiency with unique green features such as PerfectReach intelligent cable length algorithm and ActiPHY automatic link-power down, as well as IEEE 802.3az idle power savings. This allows customers to design networking equipment, network printers, or wireless access points to the latest green networking initiatives such as EnergyStar’s future networking equipment certifications.

Leveraging Vitesse’s 65-nm technology, the SparX-III family delivers power dissipation of <400mW/port for 1000BASE-T copper and below 50 mW/port for fiber. Boasting the industry’s lowest power consumption, these devices eliminate the need for a cooling fan, reducing cost and noise, and increasing system reliability. In addition, customers leverage their hardware and software investment for 16- and 10-port GE switches using the pin-compatible VSC7421 and VSC7420.

SparX-III also provides an innovative low latency architecture, which improves network performance for time-sensitive applications like IPTV, VoIP, IP conferencing, and gaming. Other new built-in features such as hardware network loop detect and an overheat protection functionality allow ODMs and OEMs to further augment system reliability.

“With the introduction of the SparX-III family, ODM and OEM customers have the power to design the Enterprise, datacenter switches and Carrier Ethernet switch router equipment of tomorrow,” said Martin Olsen, product marketing manager at Vitesse.

“We are creating best-in-class Gigabit Ethernet Layer 2 solutions and these devices, combined with the unique energy efficient features of EcoEthernet 2.0, provide the integration, simplified board design, increased system reliability, lower power consumption, and lower bill-of-materials (BOM) cost that have become benefits synonymous with Vitesse’s line of GE switches.”

Samples of the VSC7420, VSC7421, and VSC7422 will be generally available in the second quarter of calendar 2010.