IDT moves into Internet protocol co-processors, ships units to Cisco

IDT moves into Internet protocol co-processors, ships units to Cisco
SANTA CLARA, Calif.-- Integrated Device Technology Inc. here today announced its entry into the Internet protocol (IP) co-processor business with a new device that combines content-addressable memory (CAM) technology with specialized logic and high-speed control interface circuits.

IDT's first product is a customized IP co-processor, which will be shipped to Cisco Systems Inc. for use in the company's Catalyst series of multi-layer switches. A family of standard IP co-processor products will be introduced in 2001, said the company.

"This is an ideal market for IDT to pursue as it complements our existing portfolio of communications products and enables us to utilize our experience integrating high-performance logic and memory," declared Jerry Taylor, president and chief executive officer of IDT. "We estimate the market could be $150 to $200 million in 2001, and our IP co-processor offerings will provide an exciting revenue opportunity in this major, emerging market starting in this fiscal year."

The customized IP co-processor being shipped to Cisco runs at speeds up to 166 MHz and provides 83 million look-up operations per second, said IDT. The company is aiming its IP co-processors at high-speed data search functions inside routers, high-layer switches and applications that combine voice, data and video transmissions.

IDT said its has designed its IP co-processor to perform a hardware-assisted parallel search when classifying packets vs. a sequential search executed by traditional microprocessors. Hardware-assisted parallel searches enable faster routing speeds and the ability to provide improved quality of service (QoS) in Internet connections, according to IDT. The company said its IP co-processor will perform the task of classifying a packet in one clock cycle vs. hundreds of instructions in existing solutions.