Marvell Targets Gigabit Ethernet Switching for SMBs and SOHOs

Marvell is extending its Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) switch silicon to target the Small-to-Medium Size Business (SMB) and SOHO market segments. Marvell is introducing a single-chip Prestera-DX GbE packet processor solution for 24-, 16- and 8-port Gigabit Ethernet switches. The Prestera-DX devices achieve non-blocking performance and high integration by combining all of the Gigabit MACs, the packet buffer memory, a powerful switch engine, and SERDES in each port into a single chip. The Prestera chip supports enterprise-class QoS features as well as a Virtual Cable Tester technology that can detect cable problems. Marvell estimates that an unmanaged, 24-port Gigabit Ethernet built with its Prestera chip could have a street price of $600, placing the per-port cost of Gigabit Ethernet switching at around $25. The company noted that many PC motherboards and even notebooks now include Gigabit Ethernet as a standard feature.


For the SOHO market, Marvell is also introducing 5-port and 8-port integrated GbE switch silicon solutions. Marvell's new Link Street devices enable construction of a complete three-chip 5-port/8-port GbE switch with triple-speed 10/100/1000 Mbps support. The company said the advance of technology and the increase in the number of multiple-PC households and small offices would drive GbE into the SOHO market.
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