VLSI Delivers Key ASIC Design to Cisco; ICs for Versatile Interface Processors and Port Adapters Continues VLSI Tradition of Industry Leading ASICs for the Networking Environment

Business Wire, June 3, 1996

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 3, 1996--VLSI Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq:VLSI) today announced a two-chip ASIC design win supporting Cisco System's new generation of Versatile Interface Processors (VIP2) and modular port adapters for a variety of media in the network environment.

VLSI is providing semicustom interface circuits for the VIP2 and adapter products.

"VLSI continues its focus on new, emerging network markets. We are actively involved in providing semicustom and standard network IC products to industry leaders like Cisco. VLSI looks forward to supporting Cisco to solve product technology and logic integration challenges in the future," stated Rex Naden, vice president and general manager of VLSI Technology's Communication Products Group.

VLSI ASIC Details

The first ASIC device resides on the motherboard and interfaces the CPU to the Cisco proprietary bus (CY-bus) and packet bus. This ASIC is a 100,000 gate, three-layer metal (3LM) Flex Array plus 18.5K bits of RAM packaged in a 304-pin electrically and thermally enhanced QFP package (ETE) designed to support Cisco's high-performance package requirements.

The other VLSI ASIC used in the VIP2 product is of similar complexity and also packaged in a 304-pin ETE. This device interfaces the packet bus to memory and the PCI bus and also resides on the motherboard.

"Cisco selected VLSI Technology to provide critical content for our next-generation VIP2 products based on their expertise in the PCI interface and advanced packaging technology as well as a reputation for first-time success silicon delivery. With these designs for Cisco, VLSI also demonstrated the strength of its sub-micron process technology," said Frank Marshall, vice president and general manager of the Core Business Unit at Cisco Systems.

Cisco Product Details

Cisco's new VIP2 cards will double the performance and port density of its high-end routers. By using the 11 user-configurable slots on a Cisco 7513 router, users can support 176 Ethernet ports, compared to 66 previously. This will enable customers to handle increased network growth and provide greater support for network-layer services such as security, quality of service (QOS) and traffic accounting. Cisco's versatile interface processor, announced in September 1995, was the first router interface card to provide intelligent multilayer switching and run Cisco Internetwork Operating System (IOS) software.

The modular architecture of the versatile interface processor allows multiple port adapter types to be supported on a VIP2 motherboard, with each VIP2 capable of supporting two port adapter modules. Each VIP2 includes bundled DRAM and SRAM memory to limit confusion and facilitate an easy ordering cycle.

About VLSI Technology

VLSI Technology, Inc. designs and manufactures application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and application-specific standard products (ASSPs) based on its library of FSB functional system blocks. Targeting its offerings towards the communications, computing, and consumer digital entertainment markets, the company offers its customers advanced system-level integration capabilities. The company is based in San Jose, California, with 1995 revenues of $720 million, and approximately 2,700 employees worldwide.

Reader product inquiries should be directed to VLSI Technology on the worldwide web at http://www.vlsi.com or by phone at 408/434-3100. -0-

Note to Editors: FSB is a trademark of VLSI Technology, Inc. IOS is a trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective companies.

CONTACT: VLSI Technology, Inc.

Don Davis, 408/922-5244

don.davis@sanjose.vlsi.com