Freescale Debuts 64-bit ARM-based Processor for SDN/NFV

Freescale introduced a power-efficient, 64-bit ARM-based processor designed for highly virtualized, software-defined networks.

The new QorIQ LS1043A quad-core processor delivers 1.5 GHz of performance and requires power as low as just 6 W to operate. The device integrates four 64-bit ARM Cortex-A53 cores, delivering 10+ Gbps and an estimated 16,000+ CoreMarks of CPU performance.

It features advanced virtualization hardware, supports flexible, secure cloud application updates with Freescale’s trust architecture, and offloads latency sensitive applications for optimized local performance with proven classification and traffic management hardware.

Freescale said its design target with this processor includes affordable vCPE products and other next-generation edge networking equipment, such as branch routers, security appliances and SDN/NFV edge platforms.

Freescale's QorIQ LS1043A includes a wide range of high-speed I/O for wired and wireless systems including 10 GbE plus 5x 1GbE, 3x PCI Express, 3x USB 3.0 with PHYs and SATA 3.0. Freescale’s multi-protocol QUICC Engine module is also incorporated for integrated support of legacy wide area and industrial interfaces.

“Freescale is driving affordable virtualized services by delivering outstanding performance, efficiency and intelligence to the network’s edge,” said Tareq Bustami, vice president and general manager of product management for Freescale’s Digital Networking group. “This new QorIQ LS1043A processor reinforces Freescale’s leadership in providing the world’s top equipment OEMs with optimized platforms for broadly deployed, secure and flexible edge services.”

http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/site/prod_summary.jsp?code=LS1043A&tid=LS1043A