Broadcom introduced its fifth-generation of integrated Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) switch chips designed for small-to-medium businesses (SMB). The new processors enable 24-, 16-, 8-, 5-, and 4-port GbE switches to be manufactured as single-chip solutions and 48-port GbE switches to be manufactured as multi-chip solutions. A key innovation with Broadcom’s latest ROBOswitch line-up is the integration of a GbE copper physical layer transceiver (PHY) onto the 8-port, 5-port and 4-port switch chips. In addition to offering microcontroller and Ethernet ports for management, the 24- and 16-port GbE switch processors support the use of the standard PCI-bus for management, enabling OEMs to continue to use the processors and software developed from their previous generations of Broadcom switches. The 24- and 16-port GbE switch processors also provide premium features, such as 802.1x and 802.1Q VLAN for security and jumbo frames for increased performance. They also support managed features, including trunking, port-based rate control, 802.1w rapid and 802.1s multiple spanning tree protocols for network management, and 802.1p for quality of service and prioritization of different traffic types.
Pricing for the 4-port Gigabit Ethernet chip begins at $36 each per 1,000 units, while an 8-port switching chip is priced at $58 each per 1,000 units. Broadcom said the market dynamics for Ethernet switches are changing radically. Until now, GbE switches were considered to be too expensive for all but enterprise applications. However, GbE-enabled laptops, PCs and network interface cards (NICs) are driving the cost of GbE to all-time lows. This, in turn, has accelerated the demand for higher bandwidth GbE switch performance across all segments of the market, further increasing volumes and reducing cost.
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