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Industry's First I/O Bridge to Support PCI-X and Gigabit Ethernet
ServerWorks Corporation, a Broadcom® (Nasdaq: BRCM) company and the leading independent supplier of high-performance SystemI/O™ integrated circuits for servers, workstations and storage platforms, today announced it has begun sampling the Champion™ Ethernet I/O Bridge (CIOB-E), the first core logic to integrate Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) on a chip. The new ServerWorks™ I/O bridge can be used with all versions of the company's Grand Champion™ SystemI/O core logic. ServerWorks' SystemI/O core logic technology manages the flow of data to and from a system's processors, memory and peripheral input/output (I/O) devices.The CIOB-E includes two integrated GbE adapters, each capable of full- duplex operation at speeds up to one Gigabit/second, along with a PCI-X bus controller. The tight integration of these features improves system performance and reduces system cost. The CIOB-E eliminates the need for discrete GbE interfaces, reduces system board real estate requirements, and facilitates the use of GbE in space-constrained server blade applications.
"Gigabit Ethernet on an I/O bridge represents a major milestone for the convergence of computing and communications technology," said Raju Vegesna, President and CEO of ServerWorks. "Integrating high-performance communications technology directly into the core logic reduces costs, increases bandwidth and standardizes Gigabit Ethernet as the primary connection in all servers."
Gigabit Ethernet, the De Facto Standard for Servers
The Ethernet controllers on the CIOB-E contain a full range of features that optimize system performance and manageability. Each Ethernet Media Access Control (MAC) unit includes two high-speed MIPS® processor cores that can be utilized for advanced packet filtering and CPU off-loading. The CIOB-E's MAC uses the same set of drivers as Broadcom's highly successful NetXtreme™ family of GbE controllers. In addition to the dual MAC capability, the CIOB-E integrates two Ethernet physical access layer interfaces (PHY) that operate with standard twisted pair wiring at speeds of 10, 100 or 1000 Megabits/second. An alternative version of the CIOB-E, known as the CIOB-ES, supports differential signaling to an external SERDES interface for optical and backplane applications.
The CIOB-E is the first ServerWorks product to leverage Broadcom's technology and market leadership position in the Gigabit Ethernet MAC, Gigabit PHY and SERDES arena. Other important technological resources that ServerWorks has garnered through its relationship with Broadcom include TurboTeaming™ technology, which provides for a 50% performance gain when two Ethernet ports are used in conjunction with one another. A dual-Ethernet board configuration is often used in rack mount servers and blade-based servers. Also, ServerWorks customers benefit from a host of drivers and manageability software including Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) 1.5 and Alert Standard Forum (ASF), which aid in remote diagnostics and control functions.
Industry Analysts Comment on the Market and TechnologyMike Feibus, Principal Analyst, TechKnowledge Strategies, Inc.
"The high-end server market is hungry for innovations to drive growth. As the market continues shifting to GbE, server vendors that move quickly to integrate the technology onto the system board will be better positioned to capitalize on the trend."
Nathan Brookwood, Principal Analyst, Insight64
"The introduction of the ServerWorks CIOB-E once again demonstrates how Moore's Law reshapes markets. It used to be easy to tell the difference between server suppliers and communications system suppliers. Now, as Gigabit Ethernet moves into server core logic, these markets will converge. Participants that lack the IP resources and technology to combine these capabilities will find themselves at a disadvantage going forward."
Vernon Turner, Group Vice President, Global Enterprise Server Solutions, IDC
"Integrating GbE onto the system board is one way that server manufacturers can differentiate their products and take full advantage of a strong growing market. We fully expect that this announcement will lead to new server form factors and raise the bar for the industry standard server suppliers."
Jeffrey Hewitt, Principal Analyst, Servers Worldwide, Dataquest
"The trend of integrating functionality such as GbE into core logic can help to fuel the growth of blade servers and other high-density systems by reducing costs and saving valuable board space. ServerWorks' CIOB-E is designed to be a flexible option for OEMs, with its dual-MAC capability and alternative versions that support optical and backplane applications."
Michael Peterson, President, Strategic Research Corporation
"ServerWorks continues to leverage the critical role of core logic in maximizing server performance and scalability, empowering OEMs to implement bold innovations in system design. The CIOB-E, with integrated GbE and iSCSI capability, revolutionizes the blade server architecture and will have a great impact on the market."
Availability
The Champion Ethernet I/O Bridges (CIOB-E and CIOB-ES) are currently sampling, and volume shipments are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2002.
About ServerWorks and Broadcom
ServerWorks Corporation is the leading independent supplier of high- performance system input/output (I/O) integrated circuits for servers, workstations and storage platforms. ServerWorks' SystemI/O™ silicon solutions are used pervasively by leading original equipment manufacturers. Its circuits act as the essential conduits for moving high-bandwidth data in and out of servers, to and from the external I/O, the main system memory and the system processors. ServerWorks, a wholly owned subsidiary of Broadcom Corporation, is located in Santa Clara, Calif., and may be contacted at 408-922-3100 or at www.serverworks.com .
Broadcom Corporation is the leading provider of highly integrated silicon solutions that enable broadband communications and networking of voice, video and data services. Using proprietary technologies and advanced design methodologies, Broadcom designs, develops and supplies complete system-on-a- chip solutions and related hardware and software applications for every major broadband communications market. Broadcom's diverse product portfolio includes solutions for digital cable and satellite set-top boxes; cable and DSL modems and residential gateways; high-speed transmission and switching for local, metropolitan and wide area networking; home and wireless networking; cellular and terrestrial wireless communications; Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) gateway and telephony systems; broadband network processors; and SystemI/O™ server solutions. These technologies and products support its core mission: Connecting everything™.
Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and may be contacted at 1-949-450-8700 or at www.broadcom.com .
Safe Harbor Statement of Broadcom Corporation under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:
All statements made or incorporated by reference in this release, other than statements or characterizations of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by us. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "would," "potential," "continue," similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and are based upon the information available to us at this time. Such information is subject to change, and we will not necessarily inform you of such changes. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, our actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors.
Important factors that may cause such a difference for Broadcom in connection with the Champion Ethernet I/O Bridge products include, but are not limited to, general economic and political conditions and specific conditions in the markets we address, including the continuing significant economic slowdown and volatility in the technology sector and semiconductor industry, trends in the broadband communications markets in various geographic regions, and possible disruption in commercial activities related to terrorist activity or armed conflict in the United States and other locations; the timing and successful completion of technology and product development through volume production; the rate at which our present and future customers and end-users adopt ServerWorks' and Broadcom's technologies and products in the markets for high performance SystemI/O and networking products; delays in the adoption and acceptance of industry standards in those markets; changes in ServerWorks' relationship with Intel Corporation; the effects of new and emerging technologies; competitive pressures and other factors such as the qualification, availability and pricing of competing products and technologies and the resulting effects on sales and pricing of our products; our ability to specify, develop or acquire, complete, introduce, market and transition to volume production new products and technologies in a timely manner; the timing of customer-industry qualification and certification of our products and the risks of non-qualification or non-certification; the timing, rescheduling or cancellation of significant customer orders and the ability of our customers to manage their inventories; the loss of a key customer; the volume of our product sales and pricing concessions on volume sales; the effectiveness of our expense and product cost control and reduction efforts; changes in our product or customer mix; our ability to retain and hire key executives, technical personnel and other employees in the numbers, with the capabilities, and at the compensation levels needed to implement our business and product plans; intellectual property disputes and customer indemnification claims and other types of litigation risk; the availability and pricing of third party semiconductor foundry and assembly capacity and raw materials; fluctuations in the manufacturing yields of our third party semiconductor foundries and other problems or delays in the fabrication, assembly, testing or delivery of our products; the risks of producing products with new suppliers and at new fabrication and assembly facilities; problems or delays that we may face in shifting our products to smaller geometry process technologies and in achieving higher levels of design integration; the quality of our products and any remediation costs; the risks and uncertainties associated with our international operations, particularly in light of recent events; the effects of natural disasters, international conflicts and other events beyond our control; the level of orders received that can be shipped in a fiscal quarter; and other factors.
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss some of the important risk factors that could contribute to such differences or otherwise affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement for any reason.
Broadcom®, the pulse logo, Connecting everything™, ServerWorks™, the ServerWorks logo™, SystemI/O™, Champion™, Grand Champion™, NetXtreme™ and TurboTeaming™ are trademarks of Broadcom Corporation and/or its affiliates in the United States and certain other countries. Intel® is a trademark of Intel Corporation. MIPS® is a registered trademark of MIPS Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
ServerWorks Editorial Contact
Gennis Lafayette
Lee Communications
650-578-0686
gennis@leecommunications.com
Broadcom Press Contacts
Bill Blanning or Laura Brandlin
Corporate Communications Department
949-585-5555 or 949-585-5108
blanning@broadcom.com or lbrandlin@broadcom.com
ServerWorks Marketing Contact
David Pulling
Executive VP, Sales & Marketing
408-922-3130
david.pulling@serverworks.com
Broadcom Investor Relations Contact
Nick Kormeluk
Director, Investor Relations
949-585-6932
nickk@broadcom.com
SOURCE Broadcom Corporation
CONTACT: Editorial, Gennis Lafayette of Lee Communications,
+1-650-578-0686, gennis@leecommunications.com, for ServerWorks; or David
Pulling, Executive VP, Sales & Marketing of ServerWorks, +1-408-922-3130,
david.pulling@serverworks.com; or Press, Corporate Communications, Bill
Blanning, +1-949-585-5555, blanning@broadcom.com, or Laura Brandlin,
+1-949-585-5108, lbrandlin@broadcom.com, or Investor Relations, Nick Kormeluk,
Director, +1-949-585-6932, nickk@broadcom.com, all of Broadcom Corporation
URL: http://www.serverworks.com
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