Xilinx Unveils Crossbar Switch

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Xilinx Inc. (NASDAQ:XLNX) today announced the availability of the Xilinx Crossbar Switch, a programmable parameterizable custom design implementing digital cross-point switching functions on Xilinx Virtex-II and Virtex-II Pro FPGA devices. The crossbar switch is ideal for use in applications such as digital crossconnects, add-drop multiplexers, video, broadcast, and ATM switches. The design exploits configurable routing within the FPGA to deliver a solution that is significantly smaller and more cost effective than a standard multiplexer-based cross-point solution. With up to 1024 input and output ports, and up to 200 Mbps capacity per channel, the new design delivers the most cost-effective, highest density switching solution in the industry. For detailed information on the new solution, visit www.xilinx.com/esp/xbarswitch. The Crossbar solution leverages the advanced capabilities of Xilinx Virtex-II and Virtex-II Pro FPGA families by employing the partial reconfiguration capability of the FPGA family to implement the desired crossbar connection pattern. The design employs JBits, a java-based application used for manipulating the design bitstreams, to manage partial reconfiguration. JBits loads the bitstream and manages the FPGA manipulation of the design by modifying physical connections inside the bitstream. The JBits API permits the FPGA bitstream to be modified quickly, allowing for fast reconfiguration of the FPGA. With Virtex-II Pro FPGAs, the JBits API can partially or fully reconfigure the internal logic of the hardware device. The Virtex-II is the only FPGA in the industry to support partial configuration in addition to maintaining original timing performance. "Delivering a parametizeable crossbar switch that delivers state-of-the art performance and port count at prices that are competitive with fixed ASIC solutions is an excellent demonstration of the capabilities of our Virtex-II series and underscores the reasons why Virtex is the industry's leading FPGA solution for programmable systems," said Sandeep Vij, vice president of worldwide marketing at Xilinx. "This will provide to be an invaluable solution to system architects and designers who are developing products that are both cost sensitive while demanding leading edge performance." Xilinx Inc.