 |
|
PLX eNews – April 2010Welcome to PLX's quarterly newsletter and thank you for subscribing. |
|
|
In this issue: PCI Express
Consumer Storage and USB
Design Support |
|
World's First PCIe Gen 3 Switch Demonstration
Cloud Computing Enabled by PCI ExpressPCI Express is already a key component in the today's high performance processor architectures and as such it is not a surprise to see PCI Express as the interconnect of choice between the processor and the I/O, as is the case in the box with servers and storage subsystems. Outside the box, PCI Express offers significant benefits in a clustering environment that makes the "Cloud".
The Case for PCI Express on the Backplane
Over the last decade, PCIe has evolved from functioning merely as the transport for single host to IO device communication model wherein one host manages a set of IO devices. Today, PCIe can easily support an efficient host to host communication model as well as other configurations that include IO resource sharing across multiple hosts. Such features lead to a significant cost and complexity reduction. In addition, mainstream processor companies like Intel have been integrating PCIe, not just in their chipsets, but as an integral part of the core silicon. With such inherent advantages over that of 10GbE or IB, we believe that PCIe can indeed fill the mantle of being an ideal backplane interconnect.
IT Spending Reform Plan: More Efficient SystemsOne of the hardest-hit industries in the recession was financial services, the largest consumer of corporate servers, representing nearly 25% of the market. And while Wall Street is starting to get back on its feet, the financial-services companies are undoubtedly going to be far more frugal with their capital investments.
Read the Article in Network World magazine EDN Innovation Finalist - PLX 96-lane PCIe Switch
EDN -- the acclaimed technology publication read by design engineers worldwide for more than half a century -- named the PLX PEX 8696 switch as a finalist, based on the switch's unprecedented blend of flexibility, performance (up to 5GT/s) and number of lanes (96) and ports (24). The magazine's editors also cited the PEX 8696's speed-enhancing multiroot feature, enabling up to eight virtual switches; multicast support; non-transparent bridging; and ease with which designers of advanced systems such as communications, enterprise storage, embedded systems, and servers can configure and program the switch.
Samsung Moves to PCI Express for New Line of Multi-function Printers
The PLX PEX 8608 provides Samsung CLX multifunction printers with the high-performance core connectivity needed in its key internal components -- including the processor, scanner, fax and printer functions -- while simultaneously enabling backward compatibility with its legacy PCI endpoints. The PLX OXU210HP is a local bus to Hi-Speed USB host and Hi-Speed USB peripheral/On-the-Go controller device that provides users of the CLX with fast and easy USB direct access to its premium functions.
New Storage Controller Optimized for Secure Encryption
Performance and reliability are among the crucial design differentiators for the OXUFS944SE DAS controller. PLX provides over 80MB/s WRITE performance and up to a 100 percent performance increase on small block sizes over its competitors' products. PLX's eSATA performance is also best-in-market providing up to an 80 percent boost on WRITEs. The OXUFS944SE DAS controller bridges between eSATA, FireWire 1394 or USB 2.0 interfaces to a single hard disk drive and enables designers to create products with a minimal number of external components resulting in a low cost BOM.
Over One Million PLX NAS Units Shipped Validating Market
Based on market research, PLX expects global consumer NAS unit sales to grow to 13 million units by 2012, with the total available market for silicon to exceed $100M. Since its inception, the overall consumer NAS market has grown beyond the simple desktop storage receptacle into a multi-functional, application-oriented home network that is accessible at anytime and from anywhere in the world. New market applications integrating PLX NAS solutions include merging the SoCs into set-top boxes, DVRs, routers/gateways and other networked consumer electronics, enabling the connectivity of multiple computers (desktops, laptops and netbooks), smart phones, digital photo frames, Internet radio, and other various media.
Open Architecture Fuels Consumer Storage Growth
NAS Teardown in EDN magazine, Integration Amassed
NEC Chooses USB Duet for New Netbooks/Notebooks
USB Duet is a unique combination of PLX hardware and application software designed directly into new mobile computers such as NEC's, thus enabling effortless standard, USB-cabled PC-to-PC connectivity without the need for special drivers or setup. USB Duet allows Windows-based mobile computers to easily share files with other PCs.
Express APPS - - Quick Review of Ideas for Design
Express App #74 (PDF)
Express App #73 (PDF)
Express App #72 (PDF)
Find the device relevant to your design project by visiting our applications Website File Update Alerts - Stay Informed of Changes
Technical Support Available 24/7/365The PLX web-based technical support portal is your ticket to fast relief and problem resolution. We have built a large FAQ site with a broad range of immediate answers. In the event your request can not be found in the current knowledge base, simply enter a new case and our global support team will jump to action. The PLX technical support portal login can be found here http://www.plxtech.com/support/portal. Access datasheets or update your PLX profile and subscriptions by logging in at http://www.plxtech.com/mydata/ (requires separate registration) |
|
PLX announced the world's first working PCI Express Gen 3 silicon and is now using this device to demonstrate PCIe Gen 3 capabilities to key partners. General availability of a complete portfolio of new PLX PCIe Gen 3 switch products will be offered later this year, all of which are developed on 40nm technology. Enterprise servers and storage products featuring PCIe Gen 3 will be available in the first half of 2011 and are considered crucial to the advancement of data centers that enable cloud computing. 
Low latency accesses between the applications running in the servers through a PCI Express connection have a direct impact on the increased performance of the cloud. However, the server and I/O is not the only play for PCI Express in the cloud. Its versatility has allowed PCI Express to penetrate and embed itself in most all components of the cloud infrastructure. From the data plane in the servers and I/O subsystems in which actual applications are run, to the control plane of the routers and switches whose function is to provide interconnect between systems and a gateway to the cloud from the outside world.
With today's demanding backplane requirements, the era of GbE as the de-facto backplane interconnect is coming to a close. As such, a number of interconnect technologies are vying to replace GbE with the top contenders being 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE), Infiniband (IB) and PCI Express (PCIe). Though a clear winner has not yet emerged as the ideal backplane interconnect, PCIe, with its advanced capabilities, makes a strong case for becoming the backplane interconnect solution. 
Recognizing this, server designers are looking for ways to reduce costs while still being able to meet the aggressive demands of robust financial service applications. Consequently, components such as PCI Express (PCIe) switches and other highly integrated devices have become more attractive because they allow designers to limit the chips and power required to build systems. 
The PLX ExpressLane 
PLX's PCIe switching technology helped Samsung deploy its first PCIe-based printer design, resulting in higher-speed scanning and copying functions, while the PLX USB device enables a high-speed external connection for plug-and-play efficiency. 
The OXUFS944SE is the industry's highest-performance, lowest-power direct attached storage (DAS) controller for the consumer storage market. OXUFS944SE silicon is highly integrated to reduce designers' overall cost and is complemented with robust application firmware that includes secure, real-time eSATA encryption and cutting-edge software that slashes OEMs new product time to market. 
PLX exceeded one million units having been shipped to global customers. This landmark achievement validates a broad consumer market adoption of PLX NAS solutions and reflects the rising demand of easily accessible, reliable and secure digital storage in the home.
The market drivers and the role of consumer-storage devices are evolving from traditional storage capabilities such as backup, file sharing, and capacity extension into media serving, content management, remote access, transcoding, and many more applications. This transition is possible thanks to a new generation of high-speed system-on-a-chip (SoC) devices that have enough CPU power to run multiple applications and connect to several clients/users simultaneously with no degradation of service or negative user experience. To take full advantage of this shift in hardware design requires a new and fresh look at application development and distribution.
This hands-on product tear-down project showcases the second generation of Western Digital's My Book World Edition NAS (network-attached storage) device, so named because it is potentially accessible by a user from anywhere in the world. The backbone of this WD NAS product is a PLX OXE810 NAS SoC solution. 
PLX 
Express App #75 (
Engineers can now register to receive email alerts whenever a databook, app note or other specification is added or updated. Simply go to any device page to subscribe to that individual product. You will then receive alerts either by email, or only have notes posted on your