NET Silicon Conference Call scheduled for Thu, Nov 18, and today this press release:
Wednesday November 17, 10:11 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
NETsilicon Removes Final Barrier for Ethernet on the Factory Floor
NET+FAST IP Software Module Dramatically Reduces Ethernet's Response Time To Make Ethernet Suitable for Real-time Applications
WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 17, 1999-- NETsilicon, Inc. (Nasdaq:NSIL - news), the leader in system-on-chip (SoC) networking solutions, today announced NET+FAST IP(TM), a software module that removes the final barrier for using Ethernet in high speed real-time industrial automation applications. NET+FAST IP dramatically reduces the time required to process and execute commands over Ethernet, which now makes Ethernet suitable for the overwhelming majority of applications. Using the new module, which supports NETsilicon's NET+Works(TM) family of Internet/Ethernet-based embedded networking solutions, industrial automation equipment providers can now deliver Ethernet-connected applications that require a deterministic response.
''We now have a technology that removes all doubts about the use of Ethernet for real-time industrial automation applications. NET+FAST IP meets or exceeds response times from proprietary vendor-specific fieldbuses and paves the way for Ethernet and Internet protocols on the factory floor,'' said Michael Evensen, NETsilicon's vice president of industrial automation worldwide and embedded systems, Europe. ''Our patent-pending NET+FAST IP solution will make a significant impact in the oil and gas, power distribution, and control industries for many applications, including intelligent instruments, valve actuators, and robotics, among others.''
Most control systems today are based on proprietary, expensive, hardware-centric networks that guarantee a certain response time to and from networked devices. This ability to guarantee a response time is referred to as determinism. While not considered deterministic, today's 100BaseT and Gigabit Ethernet networks provide enough bandwidth to deliver the speedy response rates necessary to support many industrial automation applications. NET+FAST IP delivers an additional level of performance to capture the overwhelming majority of industrial applications.
Typically, Ethernet-connected devices offer a response time of several milliseconds. Delays of this length are unacceptable for many real-time applications. NET+FAST IP provides a mechanism to respond to incoming packets instantly. NET+FAST IP accomplishes this instant response by associating a data buffer auto-reply or an automated processing routine with particular IP ports.
In a lab test conducted by Metrica Labs, Inc. (Portland, OR), the NET+FAST IP-enabled NET+Works environment consistently generated responses of 240-250 microseconds. Without NET+FAST IP, the powerful environment produced responses in an average of 1330 microseconds - a five-factor differential. The lab test was conducted from a 450 MHz Pentium III PC client system using a 3Com 3C905B 100 BaseT Ethernet connection to NETsilicon's NET+40 processor running Integrated System Inc.'s pSOS+(TM) version 2.23. The 250 microseconds benchmark is considered blazing speed in industrial automation and fast enough to support the overwhelming majority of real-time applications.
''One of the objections to the use of Internet protocols, both TCP/IP and UDP/IP, in industrial automation has been the slowness of the IP communications stack,'' explains Dick Caro, vice president at industrial automation research firm, ARC Advisory Group. ''NETsilicon has addressed this directly with a high efficiency solution combined with the already low latency time and high speed of their NET+Works offering, a standard Ethernet solution appropriate for real-time applications. NET+FAST IP removes the only remaining advantage of proprietary networks.'' Caro adds, ''Many of our clients are in the process of implementing TCP/IP into their products and will undoubtedly be very interested in this technology.''
Pricing and Availability
NET+FAST IP software is available as an optional module in the NET+Works Embedded Networking Solutions architecture. A run-time license is required and is priced at $3.00 in 10,000 quantities.
About NET+Works
The NET+Works(TM) family of embedded networking solutions, when coupled with PHY and memory, contain all the hardware and networking software necessary to add Ethernet/Internet connectivity to virtually any electronic product design including: industrial automation equipment, data acquisition and test equipment, Internet devices and utility monitoring equipment, among others. The NET+Works software includes: 10/100BaseT Ethernet and Internet protocols, HTTP and FTP client and server, Web browser, mail servers, and a host of drivers, interfaces, and utilities.
About NETsilicon
NETsilicon, Inc. (Nasdaq:NSIL - news) is the leading provider of system-on-chip (SoC) embedded networking solutions. The company's NET+Works(TM) and NET+Imaging(TM) product families enable manufacturers to add network connectivity to their products easily and affordably. The company's solutions are used by manufacturers in a broad range of industries including telecommunications, utilities, industrial and building controls, imaging, and retail. NETsilicon's SoC networking solutions are paving the way for the device-centric networks of tomorrow.
For additional company, product or financial information, please visit the NETsilicon Web site, www.netsilicon.com, send email to info@netsilicon.com, or call 800-243-2333. For calls originating outside the US, call 781-647-1234. NETsilicon headquarters is located at 411 Waverley Oaks Road #227, Waltham, MA 02452. Further information on open networking in industrial automation can be found at www.iaona.com, the Web site of the Industrial Automation Open Networking Alliance (IAONA).
NET+Works and NET+FAST IP are trademarks of NETsilicon, Inc. NET+ARM is a trademark of ARM Limited and is exclusively sublicensed to NETsilicon. pSOS+ is a trademark of Integrated Systems Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially due to a variety of factors, including without limitation the company's ability to develop, produce, and market products that incorporate new technology on a timely basis, that are priced competitively and achieve significant market acceptance; higher expenses associated with the development and marketing of new products; changes in product mix; risks of dependence on third-party component suppliers; inventory risks due to shifts in market demand; the presence of competitors with broader product lines and greater financial resources; intellectual property rights and litigation; needs for liquidity; and the other risks detailed from time to time in the company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
