SAN JOSE, Calif. -- EZchip Technologies Ltd. (a subsidiary of LanOptics Ltd., NASDAQ:LNOP), a fabless semiconductor company providing high-speed network processors, today announced availability of application code and tech notes for its network processors implementing new Operation, Administration and Maintenance (OAM) specifications. The OAM code enables vendors of Carrier Ethernet Switches and Routers (CESR) that utilize EZchip’s NP-2 and its next-gen network processors, to implement the OAM specifications that provide the cornerstone for reliability and high availability in Carrier Ethernet networks. EZchip will highlight its OAM implementation along with other benefits of its network processors in the upcoming Metro Ethernet Equipment Design Seminar hosted by The Linley Group on March 13, 2007 in the DoubleTree Hotel, San Jose, CA.

As Ethernet gains traction in the carrier infrastructure, the management aspects of the network come more and more into play. There is much activity in this area through different standards bodies that define Ethernet OAM functionality equivalent to what carriers are accustomed to in SONET and ATM networks. These standards provide a full set of performance monitoring, statistics and connectivity fault management capabilities.

OAM processing however burdens CESR equipment with significant processing overhead related to complex packet classification, simultaneous monitoring of many sessions and accurate bandwidth control. Furthermore, since Ethernet network deployments are at their start and as OAM requirements are evolving and specifications are still being defined, OAM implementation will likely require occasional updating. Successful OAM processing, therefore, calls for off-loading the processing intensive data-path tasks to the network processor. To be effective the network processor must provide highly flexible processing, fine-grained traffic management and a variety of hardware-based features. EZchip’s network processors standout through their processing flexibility, integrated traffic management and OAM support hardware, to provide high-performance OAM processing that can adapt to changing standards and requirements.

“We are pleased to offer advanced OAM offload capabilities to our customers, this is an extremely important aspect in the successful deployment of Carrier Ethernet networks,” said Patrick Bisson, EZchip’s Vice President of Technology Applications. “It is a perfect example that highlights the flexibility and integration of EZchip’s network processors and the benefits they bring for building successful CESR equipment.”

EZchip Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: EZCH)