GbE switches targets cloud, infrastructure apps

Qualcomm Atheros Inc. has announced the QCA871x series of high port-count Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) switch solutions that according to the company deliver the industry's first unified wired and wireless switch functionality for small- and medium-business (SMB) customers. On the other hand, the QCA851x series consists of high port-count wired solutions. The chipsets are designed to enable simple, automated, end-to-end switch and access point solutions at price points that will help achieve advanced cloud management typically associated with enterprise-class switch solutions, the firm added.

With the QCA871x series, Qualcomm Atheros said it is the first company to integrate wireless controller functions into the switch silicon, enabling the solution to process and forward both wired Ethernet 802.3 and Wi-Fi 802.11 packets simultaneously at wire speed. Furthermore, the complete Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points Protocol (CAPWAP) support in the QCA871x allows remote access point control and management to enhance network performance and lower maintenance costs.

The QCA871x also eliminates the need for an external multi-core CPU commonly employed in traditional Wi-Fi Access Controller architectures, replacing it with an integrated, high-performance CPU, thus providing a competitive cost structure to address SMB requirements.

Most SMB locations do not have dedicated IT support for network security functions. To address this network management gap, the QCA871x and QCA851x solutions implement a unique series of simple-to-use, highly secure features not found in standard switch offerings, Qualcomm noted. In addition to the native DOS prevention technologies and multi-stage ACL engine, the QCA871x and QCA851x contain the industry's only multi-level isolation accelerator, allowing users to create features such as port isolation and private VLANs with a simple select and click matrix.

Qualcomm Atheros' QCA871x/QCA851x switch series also offers rich managed Layer 2/Layer 3 (L2/L3) features in an easy to use solution with reduced complexity and cost structure relative to the traditional enterprise switch, thus bringing a high-performance, yet cost-effective solution to the SMB segment.

To meet the harsh environmental and power challenges such as those found in emerging countries, the switch series features Qualcomm Atheros' patent-pending surge protection and advanced anti-electrostatic discharge (anti-ESD) technologies. These enhancements lower total cost of ownership by reducing potential surge and ESD damage at manufacturing lines and in the field, the company stated.

Qualcomm Atheros' high port-count Gigabit Ethernet switch series is now sampling to customers and is expected to ship in volume beginning in 1Q13.