2-Gb/s Fibre Channel Loop Switch Improves SAN Performance

Designed for use in storage area networks (SANs), the VCSC7192 is a 12-channel Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL) switch IC that boasts of advanced diagnostic and low latency capabilities. The chip operates in an arbitrated loop environment to route Fibre Channel frames directly to the destination without the performance penalties of daisy chaining through each node on the loop.Other features of the switch chip include a bandwidth of 2,400 MB/s, an I2C interface, multiple loop switch cascading, intelligent device insertion/bypassing, 106.25-MHz LVTTL reference clock, 2.5V/3.3V operation, and 9.5W power dissipation (max.). In a 528-pin plastic BGA, price is $210 each/1,000. VITESSE SEMICONDUCTOR CORP., Camarillo, CA. (805) 388-3700.