3Ware 2005 Annual Report Download - page 12

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usually interface with network processors on one side and switch fabric devices on the other. During fiscal 2005,
we introduced the nP3705 family of integrated network processors and traffic managers. The architecture of this
product family integrates multiple network-optimized programmable co-processors architected to deliver wire-
speed performance while processing complex nested protocol stacks and mixed ATM/Packet payloads. Our
current customers for network processors and traffic manager devices include Alcatel, Cisco, Fujitsu, Nortel,
Lucent, Huawei and Juniper.
Switching Layer: Our switch fabric ICs switch information in the proper priority and to the proper
destinations. Our switch fabric product portfolio includes our PRS, or packet routing switch, fabric devices such
as the PRS 5G, PRS 20G, PRS 28.4G, PRS 64G, 64Gu, Q-64G, PRS 80G / C48X and C192X and queuing
managers like UDASL, C48 and C192. Our switch fabric portfolio also includes our Cyclone Terabit Switch
Fabric series, a highly integrated, low-power, area-efficient chip set implementing a switching fabric that
seamlessly handles many combinations of packet, cell, and TDM traffic. In fiscal 2005, we introduced a new
PRS Q-80G switch device delivering higher overspeed for demanding Ethernet and Packet over SONET
applications. Our current customers for switching layer products include Alcatel, CNT/Inrange, Fujitsu, Huawei,
Lucent, Maranti, Marconi, Mitsubishi, Motorola, Nortel, Siemens and Tellabs.
Control Plane: Sitting outside the datapath, our embedded processors or control plane processors control
overall system functioning. These processors are high performance devices enabling high-speed computations
that help identify, optimize and control the flow of data within the network. Our PowerPC product line of
embedded processors enable complex applications such as deep content switching, routing and load balancing to
be performed at wire speed.
Storage Products
Our current storage products include serial and parallel ATA RAID controllers and embedded storage
processors. In fiscal 2005, we announced that we would discontinue development of our Fibre Channel Host Bus
Adapter product line but will continue to sell and support our current line of HBA products.
RAID Controllers: Through our acquisition of 3ware, we design, manufacture and sell a line of serial and
parallel ATA RAID controllers. A SATA RAID controller installs in the PCI slot on a standard motherboard and
delivers high performance, highly reliable storage for servers and network attached storage devices. A single
controller manages up to 12 hard disk drives or six terabytes of data for Linux and Windows operating
environments. Our proprietary packet-switched RAID architecture, StorSwitchTM delivers best of class
performance that we believe has secured AMCC a leadership position in the SATA RAID marketplace. In
August 2002, 3ware introduced the 8000 series, the industry’s first SATA RAID controller which led the market
in performance and capacity. In April 2004, AMCC introduced the 9000 series which increased performance and
provided enterprise class features to expand the market for SATA.
Embedded Processors: The PowerPC 440SP and 440 SPe Processors, members of the PPC440 embedded
processor family, offer exceptional performance, high bandwidth, design flexibility, and robust features geared to
demanding embedded storage and networking applications. The PowerPC 440SP and 440 SPe processors are
ideally suited for RAID controllers and SAN equipment.
We are not currently developing new host bus adapters for the storage market, but we continue to sell Fibre
Channel HBA products:
Fibre Channel HBAs: An HBA is a PCBA that fits standard sockets on motherboards for servers and
workstations that enable high-speed data transfer within the SAN. Communication between the HBA and the
operating system is regulated by device driver software that is included with the HBA. The device driver
software also provides a high-reliability data path from a user’s application to a storage device across a SAN.
Working in conjunction with our device driver software, our HBAs work in many SAN topologies, interoperate
with major operating systems and can be used with the PCI, PCI-X, cPCI, PCI express and SBus interfaces. Our
HBAs are deployed in demanding SAN environments by Global 1000 enterprises.
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