10GE Switch Promotes Cost-Efficient Scalable Enterprise Switches

The BCM5673 is billed as the first 10-Gbit Ethernet multilayer switch that supports the CX4 interface. It enables manufacturers to produce switches that can aggregate 1GE ports in the enterprise. Also, it offers wire-speed layer 2 through layer 7 (L2-L7) switching and routing capabilities. The BCM5673 combines a 10GE attachment unit interface (XAUI) serializer/deserializer (SERDES) and a CX4 SERDES interface for transmission over low-cost copper cables. The on-chip packet processor provides L2-L7 intelligence and the ability to classify voice, video, and data in IPv4 and IPv6 networks. The chip is housed in a 400-pin PBGA and has a power consumption of 4 W. Pricing is $249 in lots of 1000 to 5000.