IronBridge Networks and LSI Logic Produce Four Flawless ASIC Solutions for Next-Generation Terabit Routers Ahead of Schedule

Business Wire, April 10, 2000

Business/Technology Editors

LEXINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 10, 2000

Strong partnership produces ASICs that work correctly on the first

pass, marking successful completion of hardware development for

IronBridge's first product release

IronBridge Networks has completed the development of the four ASICs powering its second-generation terabit routers ahead of schedule, the company announced today. Working with LSI Logic Corporation (NYSE:LSI), a world-leading supplier of communications chips, IronBridge finished the new ASICs (application specific integrated circuits) in time to launch its first product into the fast-growing terabit router market.

IronBridge engineers used the LSI Logic Right-First-Time(R) methodology to develop chips that enable the IronBridge router to achieve terabit-per-second throughput, making it 25 times faster than today's routers. Designing flawless chips on the first try, as IronBridge has done, is unusual when developing complex products such as IronBridge's second-generation terabit routers. IronBridge used a design strategy that reduced development risk by complementing its ASICs with easily produced field programmable gate arrays (FPGA). This strategy enabled the company to focus more time and resources on the high performance functions that were implemented in ASICs. Combined with IronBridge's experienced design team and LSI Logic's powerful design tools, the strategy spared IronBridge the trouble other terabit router companies have had getting their ASICs to work correctly.

"Looking at the terabit router space, many of the most visible companies have had ASIC woes. Some have had to re-spin their designs two or three times, putting them six months to a year behind schedule," said IronBridge Vice President of Engineering Steve Bielagus. "We haven't had to touch our ASICs, so we've actually shortened our development schedule."

Carrier-class supernodes demand top ASIC performance

IronBridge is pioneering true carrier-class Internet infrastructure products that integrate terabit routing and optical networking technology. Its optically based terabit routers, or supernodes, are designed for the core of service provider IP networks, where performance and scalability are critical. The IronBridge router uses top-performance chip designs to achieve terabit-per-second throughput. The ASICs in each IronBridge supernode implement many of the company's patented routing technologies and control fundamental system functions like packet forwarding, memory control and inter-board communications.

IronBridge chose LSI Logic as its ASIC solutions partner because of its technology portfolio and quality manufacturing processes. In particular, LSI Logic's HyperPHY(TM) Transceiver Core was a key enabling technology for IronBridge.

IronBridge's high bandwidth backplane leverages LSI Logic's HyperPHY(TM)technology

IronBridge integrated HyperPHY into its design to drive the backplane. The interface provides a throughput of 800 Mbps for each backplane link, thus delivering much higher performance than traditional parallel backplanes. HyperPHY solved IronBridge's backplane bandwidth challenges very efficiently, giving the company a competitive advantage at the router's architecture level.

"Traditional parallel backplanes require too many pins, consume too much power, and are inherently not scalable at the level required by next generation routers," said Jean-Marc Patenaude, director of LSI Logic's Broadband Networks business. "Our HyperPHY Transceiver technology has been optimized specifically to address backplane bandwidth bottlenecks in high performance switches and routers."

The strong relationship between the IronBridge and LSI Logic engineering teams enabled IronBridge to set aggressive performance goals. Leveraging LSI Logic's expertise, IronBridge was able to push the design and performance of its ASICs. IronBridge's most complicated design, a high density ball grid array, was designed in 24 weeks, which is half the industry norm for such a complex chip.

"Our relationship with LSI Logic demonstrates how two companies with superior technology and aggressive goals can help each other advance the state of networking," Bielagus said. "LSI Logic ends up with better technology, we end up with better chips, and our customers end up with better products."

About LSI Logic Corporation

LSI Logic Corporation (NYSE:LSI), is a leading supplier of communications chips for broadband, data networking, wireless and set-top box applications. In addition, the company provides chips and boards for network computing and supplies storage network solutions for the enterprise. LSI Logic is headquartered at 1551 McCarthy Boulevard, Milpitas, CA 95035, 408-433-8000. http://www.lsilogic.com.

Right-First-Time(R) is a registered trademarks of LSI Logic Corporation. HyperPHY(TM) is a trademark of LSI Logic Corporation.

About IronBridge Networks

IronBridge Networks develops carrier-class Internet infrastructure products that integrate terabit routing and optical networking capabilities. IronBridge products enable Internet and telecommunications service providers to meet growing demand for high-quality, broadband Internet services, while making their networks more efficient and easier to manage. The company, funded with $85 million in capital and based in Lexington, Mass., has a staff of recognized leaders from the Internet and telecommunications industries. For more information, visit the company Web site at www.ironbridgenetworks.com.