Intel takes step away from network processors
By Suzanne Deffree, News Editor -- EDN, November 12, 2007
Intel Corp. is moving away from its IXP28XX product line of network processors, shifting the technology to a startup specifically focused on networking as the industry giant continues with its restructuring plans that see it cutting low-performing business units.
Netronome Systems Inc. today announced a technology licensing and sales and marketing agreement with Intel focused on the extension of the IXP28XX product line of network processors. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
Under the terms of the agreement, Netronome is developing a next-generation line of IXP-compatible, high-end network flow processors with at least 16 micro-engines that combine the Intel IXP28XX technology with Netronome’s flow management and deep packet inspection architecture. Netronome will provide full support for the Intel IXA software and hardware development kit for new Intel IXP28XX designs, as well as those based on Netronome’s new high-end network flow processors. Further, Netronome and Intel will collaborate on technology initiatives, including Intel’s QuickPath Interconnect and QuickAssist, to provide tight integration between the Intel CPU architecture and Netronome’s network flow processors. Netronome will also begin providing immediate sales support of the Intel IXP2855 and Intel IXP2805 network processors for new designs. In addition, Netronome said it is authorized to promote the use of the IXP28xx network processors with customers in new designs.
“The licensing of our technology will allow customers to continue their IXP hardware development and will provide the re-use of their existing tools, codebase and knowledge,” said Doug Davis, VP and general manager of Intel’s embedded and communications group, who will join Netronome’s board of directors.
The move by Intel comes as the MPU maker continues the broad restructuring plan it first laid out in April 2006. Since then the company has made significant layoffs that should bring Intel’s headcount down from 94,000 employees at the end of 2006 to some 86,000 employees by year’s end and numerous business sales, including an agreement announced in September to sell certain assets of its modular communications platforms business to RadiSys Corp. for $25 million, plus $6.75 million of inventory and other considerations. That acquisition is expected to boosts RadiSys’ position in ATCA platforms and solutions for telecommunication equipment manufacturers worldwide. Like today’s announcement, the two companies said they will be working together to transition service and support to all customers.
Netronome said that Intel will continue to act as the primary distribution source in fulfillment of all Intel IXP28XX products, but did not detail when Intel would end production of the chips or service to customers.
“This is a significant agreement, not only for Netronome, but for the network-processor industry as a whole,” said Linley Gwennap, principal analyst of The Linley Group, in the statement. “The IXP is the best-selling NPU architecture on the market today, and this agreement ensures a growth path for existing customers as network speeds increase from 1Gbps to 10Gbps and beyond.”
Netronome, founded in 2003, already has product on the market, the Netronome Flow Engines, a family of PCI Express coprocessor subsystems based on the Intel IXP28xx product line for use in systems built on standard Intel Architecture that hosts Linux-based network and security applications.
