PLX 16-Lane PCI Express Switch Now Sampling; PLX Reaches Another Milestone in PCI Express Technology with ExpressLane PEX 8516 Switch Availability; Device, RDK Ready for Orders

Business Wire, Dec 7, 2004

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- PLX Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq:PLXT), the leading supplier of standard input/output (I/O) interconnect silicon to the communications, server, storage, embedded control, and consumer industries, today announced sampling of another member of the PLX(R) ExpressLane(TM) family of PCI Express(TM) (PCIe) switching and bridging devices. PLX has begun sampling the 16-lane ExpressLane PEX 8516 switch to its early customers.

System and board designers now can order from PLX samples of the PEX 8516, which is available in a 27x27mm, 312-pin BGA package. Additionally, designers can order a PLX Rapid Development Kit (RDK), enabling them to evaluate PEX 8516 features, streamline product development and bring their designs to market faster.

Interoperability with Wide Range of PCI Express Systems, Boards

The PEX 8516 switching device is the industry's only 16-lane PCIe switch with four flexible ports, two virtual channels, and non-transparent bridging. The device provides flexible port widths, allowing any port to be configured as either upstream or downstream through hardware strapping, software configuration or an optional EEPROM. The PEX 8516 switch provides a standard Hot Plug controller on each port to enable field upgrades. Furthermore, it provides optional end-to-end cyclic redundancy checks (ECRC) to support the applications that require guaranteed data integrity while it moves from source to destination. In addition to the basic error reporting, the PEX 8516 supports advanced error reporting, thus easing system development, debug and optimization.

Family of PCIe Switches Now Sampling

The PEX 8516 is the second of PLX's PCIe switches to commence sampling; the PEX 8532, a 32-lane switch, began sampling in September of this year. Both the PEX 8516 and PEX 8532 enable quality of service through the mapping of eight traffic classes on two fully featured virtual channels, with arbitration support for each port for applications such as server, storage, multimedia and communication.

The rich features and flexibility of the PEX 8516 switch enable designers of new applications to take advantage of PCIe technology's efficiencies and advanced features. System and board designs based on the PEX 8516 can utilize the high bandwidth of PCIe technology in legacy PCI applications, while using existing software developed for the PCI interconnect. The PEX 8516 switch can be used in fan-out, peer-to-peer, aggregation, multi-host, intelligent-I/O, and high-availability applications.

The PLX ExpressLane family of products consists of PCIe switches and PCI/PCI-X-to-PCIe bridges.

Ordering Information

To order samples of the ExpressLane PEX 8516 and/or the RDK, please contact PLX at 408-328-3500 or go to www.plxtech.com/contacts.> About PLX

PLX Technology, Inc. (www.plxtech.com), based in Sunnyvale, Calif., USA, is a leading supplier of standard I/O interconnect silicon to the communications, server, storage, embedded-control, and consumer industries. The PLX solution provides a competitive edge to our customers through an integrated combination of high-performance silicon, hardware and software design tools, and partnerships. These innovative solutions enable our customers to develop equipment with industry-leading performance, scalability and reliability. Furthermore, the combination of PLX product features and supporting infrastructure allow customers to bring their designs to market faster. PLX PCI- and USB-based devices are designed into a wide variety of applications across multiple industries.

PLX, ExpressLane and the PLX Technology logo are registered trademarks of PLX Technology, Inc., which may be registered in some jurisdictions.