Date: 02/05/2012

100GbE switch IC from Broadcom offers line card in a single chip

Broadcom Corporation has introduced the 100 gigabit Ethernet (GbE) switching solution, BCM88650 series, enables the design of switching platforms with densities up to 4,000 100GbE ports. The BCM88650 system on chip (SoC) combines the features and functionality of a complete line card into a single chip.

Due to the growing popularity of the social networking, video streaming, etc., large data centers with thousands of servers are required. Large service provider networks require high density core switching platforms with 100 Gbps interfaces to support the increasing access capacities such as 10G PON. The BCM88650 series is the merchant silicon solution that can process a single stream of 200Gbps traffic at Layer 2-Layer 4 with integrated advanced packet classification and deep-buffer traffic management features to support data center, carrier Ethernet and packet transport requirements.

The unified infrastructure enables system vendors to build a single, scalable product line sharing the same switching infrastructure to address a variety of densities and applications.

A carrier access switching solution with a total capacity of a few hundred Gbps can be designed with a single BCM88650 device. A chassis with a total capacity of 25Tbps can be designed for the core of the data center or the carrier core network. Moreover, multiple chassis of different capacities can be interconnected to create a scalable core platform and deliver up to 4,000 wire-speed ports of 100GbE or their 40GbE/10GbE equivalent.

The BCM88650 series consists of multiple variations, each tailored for a specific market segment or application including data center, enterprise, carrier access, metro Ethernet, and transport applications. All devices are now sampling with production volume slated for the second half of 2012.