re: AMCC Retreats From FranceAt what point do switch fabrics become a healthy market? they seem to be lagging network processors (as most people predicted years ago)... and for that matter, are we even at a point where the network processor market could be called "healthy"?
re: AMCC Retreats From FranceSwitch Fabrics are a healthy market. It's just proprietary switch fabrics that aren't. And it is hard to see how that will change going forward given the standardized solutions available.
re: AMCC Retreats From FranceWith all the consolidation happening, I won't be surprised if AMCC would think about buying Ethernet based switch fabric/network processor company? Anyone knows what those target companies could be?
re: AMCC Retreats From FranceWith all the consolidation happening, I won't be surprised if AMCC would think about buying Ethernet based switch fabric/network processor company? Anyone knows what those target companies could be?
I like that avenue of thought, although i'm not sure AMCC would do the buying. Xelerated took the Ethernet route with its switch fabric some time ago.
re: AMCC Retreats From Franceschmitt: Switch Fabrics are a healthy market. It's just proprietary switch fabrics that aren't. And it is hard to see how that will change going forward given the standardized solutions available. ___________________________________________________
Could you please elaborate? My own experience with Standards based switch fabrics (ethernet, ATM, PCIe) has been that they are often too restrictive for any serious USP or value add to be built in. Probably ok for low marging commodity stuff.
re: AMCC Retreats From FranceYou're right, they typically are too restrictive. The problems with proprietary ASSPs are:
1. You are permanantly wedded to one vendor 2. Still likely misses some of the key features you need 3. High cost
What then happens is the 2-3 high volume high-end players go with ASICs (aka Cisco, Juniper), the high-volume low end stuff goes to standard fabrics (aka Ethernet), and ASSP fabric companies are left to chase tier 2-3 players. It's hard to secure the big customer that will provide the major volume you need to support the R&D.
Telecom is now commoditized. If you can't do it off the shelf or with an open standard, or do the ASIC yourself, it just doesn't get done.
I like that avenue of thought, although i'm not sure AMCC would do the buying. Xelerated took the Ethernet route with its switch fabric some time ago.
Greenfield could be an interesting possibility.
Switch Fabrics are a healthy market. It's just proprietary switch fabrics that aren't. And it is hard to see how that will change going forward given the standardized solutions available.
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Could you please elaborate? My own experience with Standards based switch fabrics (ethernet, ATM, PCIe) has been that they are often too restrictive for any serious USP or value add to be built in. Probably ok for low marging commodity stuff.
France has succeeded in converting itself into a Moslem third world country. Still with an attitude, of course.
-Why
1. You are permanantly wedded to one vendor
2. Still likely misses some of the key features you need
3. High cost
What then happens is the 2-3 high volume high-end players go with ASICs (aka Cisco, Juniper), the high-volume low end stuff goes to standard fabrics (aka Ethernet), and ASSP fabric companies are left to chase tier 2-3 players. It's hard to secure the big customer that will provide the major volume you need to support the R&D.
Telecom is now commoditized. If you can't do it off the shelf or with an open standard, or do the ASIC yourself, it just doesn't get done.
It's a very ugly business.