Communications: Gigabit Ethernet Controllers Pack Integrated TPM Security Functions

May 26, 2005

The BCM5752 and BCM5752M NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet controller chips incorporate integrated Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2 functionality. Designed for enterprise desktop and mobile PCs, respectively, the controllers allow PC OEMs to offer standards-based TPM security as a standard feature on all enterprise client PCs. The TPM 1.2 standard, with several new security and usability features, is the latest specification. It's expected to be fully ratified by the Trusted Computing Group later this year. Additional power-management modes included on the BCM5752M mobile PC version permit the chip to adapt to the user's actions and automatically scale the power usage accordingly. In lots of 10,000 units, the BCM5752 starts at less than $6 each.

Broadcom Corp.www.broadcom.com

About the Author

Dave Bursky

Technologist

Dave Bursky, the founder of New Ideas in Communications, a publication website featuring the blog column Chipnastics – the Art and Science of Chip Design. He is also president of PRN Engineering, a technical writing and market consulting company. Prior to these organizations, he spent about a dozen years as a contributing editor to Chip Design magazine. Concurrent with Chip Design, he was also the technical editorial manager at Maxim Integrated Products, and prior to Maxim, Dave spent over 35 years working as an engineer for the U.S. Army Electronics Command and an editor with Electronic Design Magazine.