Spirent Puts Xilinx in Ethernet Tester

SAN JOSE -- Xilinx, Inc. (Nasdaq: XLNX - News) today announced that Spirent Communications(TM), a worldwide provider of test systems for next-generation network technologies, utilized Xilinx® Virtex-II Pro(TM) FPGAs, PCI-X core, and Xilinx Design Services to achieve rapid deployment of its SmartBits TeraMetrics XD family, the industry's first dual-media Gigabit Ethernet test system. By combining high density and dual media, Spirent's customers can more effectively and economically test fiber and copper implementations thereby easing the deployment of Ethernet to the desktop and the edge.

Unveiled today, Spirent's SmartBits TeraMetrics XD family uses Xilinx Virtex-II Pro FPGAs, the industry's only FPGA family to offer devices with 6,700 logic cells, 500K bits of embedded block memory plus an embedded PowerPC(TM) processor and four RocketIO(TM) serial transceivers for under $30(*). The Virtex-II Pro designs include a Xilinx PCI-X core to achieve an eight-fold throughput increase on a critical internal bus.

"PCI-X was new to our development team, yet Xilinx Design Services successfully implemented the core, providing valuable assistance during the integration effort," said Carr Brown, engineering manager at Spirent Communications. "The end result -- a cost-effective, high-utilization (93%) design which is clocked at 133 MHz -- was delivered right on schedule."

"Spirent is among a growing number of next-generation network providers to use the advanced features and cost advantages of Xilinx FPGAs, Design Services, and vast IP library to gain a competitive advantage," said Sandeep Vij, vice president of worldwide marketing at Xilinx. "Spirent has developed a unique architecture that will significantly reduce the time and cost required for product development."

Spirent Communications

Xilinx Inc.