FREMONT, Calif. -- The Network Processing Forum (NPF) today announced the availability of two significant implementation agreements (IAs) - the Streaming Interface IA and the Switch Fabric Benchmark Framework IA. The Streaming Interface specification provides link layer interoperability among data path devices and is designed to be speed independent and scalable. Initially it is targeted for 10 Gbps applications, increasing to 40 Gbps in the future. The Switch Fabric Benchmark Framework IA defines guidelines for the development of switch fabric benchmarks by the NPF. "The NPF is releasing IAs at an accelerated pace," said John G. Metz, principal, Metz International, Ltd, Harvard MA. "These new IAs, along with the ones released over the past couple of months, add up to an impressive body of work for the NPF, sure to have a positive impact on the market." The Streaming Interface specification defines link layer interoperability among data path devices including framer to NPU, NPU to NPU, and NPU to switch fabric. This work builds on the success of the existing 2.5 Gbps CSIX-L1 specification and adopts a reduced pin-count approach to a 10 Gbps interface between network processors, framers, and switching fabrics. The Working Group leveraged the existing Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) SPI-4 phase 2 interface during this development. The protocol is speed independent and scalable. Initially targeted for 10Gbps applications, future revisions are planned to extend the interface to 40Gbps applications. The Switch Fabric Benchmark Framework IA specifies that NPF switch fabric benchmarks will define a set of test methods for determining the performance of switch fabrics under various scenarios (such as bursty traffic, or multiple classes of service). It also specifies that the benchmarks will provide performance metrics for each individual traffic scenario rather than an average over several scenarios. The Framework focuses the benchmarks on switch fabrics using a CSIX interface. Future Switch Fabric Benchmark extensions could include other interfaces, such as NPF streaming. In a separate release: The Networking Processing Forum (NPF) today announced that it has selected The Tolly Group as an independent third-party certification authority. The NPF has created an "NPF Certified" mark that NPF members can use to demonstrate that their benchmarks meet the requirements specified in NPF benchmark Implementation Agreements (IAs). NPF members wishing to use the "NPF Certified" mark must first have their benchmark results audited and certified by a Certified Auditor. The selection of The Tolly Group as a Certified Auditor allows NPF members to immediately apply for certification for benchmark results from the NPF IPv4 Forwarding Benchmark IA. "We are very pleased that The Tolly Group, a premier independent test lab, will be a certification authority for the NPF," said Serge Audenaert, chair of the NPF's Benchmarking Working Group. "Combining third-party certification with the NPF's open methodology and the NPF's well-specified terms of use on results leads to benchmarks that are objective, verifiable, and which provide great value to System OEMs," concluded Audenaert. The NPF also announced that it would work closely with The Tolly Group in creating future benchmark IAs and test methodologies. Network Processing Forum (NPF)