LSI Logic Merlin(TM) Fibre Channel Core Family Boosts Construction
of Storage Area Networks
09:16 a.m. Oct 26, 1998 Eastern
MILPITAS, Calif., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- A new family of
Fibre Channel cores that enables designers to quickly configure
and develop ASIC devices for use in storage area networks
(SANs) has been introduced by LSI Logic Corporation (NYSE:
LSI). Based on the latest Fibre Channel standards, the new
Merlin(TM) 2 cores will be combined with other members of LSI
Logic's CoreWare(R) library to form single-chip controllers for
use in host adapters, hubs, switches and other devices that allow
multiple servers to access groups of storage devices.
Storage area networks off-load mass storage (e.g., RAID arrays,
enterprise tape and disk drives) from individual servers and move
it to a separate high-speed network connection that is accessible
by many servers, computer clusters and other computing
resources. This move greatly improves data transfer speeds,
scalability, availability, sharing and management. Fibre Channel
is a high-performance serial interface that is ideal for storage area
networks. It operates at gigabit transfer rates, connects over 16
million devices with up to 126 on a single loop, and supports
distances as long as 10-kilometers between SAN connections.
As part of LSI Logic's CoreWare library, the new Merlin 2
family of Fibre Channel cores provides the only fully integrated
modular approach to Fibre Channel designs. Merlin 2 can be
integrated on a chip with custom logic and other functions,
including RISC processors, memory and DSP engines, to create
highly cost-effective, single-chip controllers.
The family enables designers to create multiple designs for
various components of the storage area network from the basic
cores' functionality. The heart of the Merlin 2 family is a single
loop protocol controller (LPC), which along with the Fibre
channel protocol engine (FCE) ensures compliance with the Fibre
Channel standards and interoperability with other components.
By taking advantage of Merlin 2's modularity and the
configurability of the various bolt-on components, designers can
develop products that span a range of performance levels and
price points.
Merlin 2 is a second-generation version of the original Merlin
Fibre Channel core, which has been deployed in a range of
applications since its 1996 introduction. Merlin 2 goes beyond its
predecessor to offer compliance with the new ANSI FC-AL2
standard that improves interoperability and reliability for the Fibre
Channel arbitrated loop topology. Merlin 2 cores are also
compliant with the other major Fibre Channel standards,
including Fibre Channel Physical and Signaling Interface
(FC-PH) as well as the Private Loop Direct Attach (FC-PLDA),
Fabric Loop Attach (FC-FLA) profiles and Fibre Channel for
SCSI (FCP-SCSI) profiles.
"Fibre Channel is emerging as the de facto standard interface
between mass storage systems and computer resources such as
servers, workstations and mainframes," said Tom Harrington,
director of marketing for LSI Logic's Storage Components
Division. "But until now there has been no Fibre Channel
product that both embraces the newest standards and lets
developers mix and match modular cores to create custom
single-chip controllers that offer a less expensive alternative to
discrete solutions. The Merlin 2 family provides the ASIC
infrastructure that Fibre Channel needs to take its place as the
high-volume, mainstream connectivity technology for storage
area networks."
Several other enhancements expand the Merlin 2 family's
functionality and performance. Integrated gigabit transceivers,
based on the LSI Logic's GigaBlaze(TM) transceiver technology,
reduce both the cost and the number of components required to
implement a Fibre Channel controller design. New bolt-on
options increase Merlin 2's ability to manage high-speed data
streams by providing such features as enhanced exchange context
caching efficiency, extensive error checking and automated
FCP-SCSI initiator mode operation.
Merlin 2 Family Members
The Merlin 2 family includes the following products:
Merlin 2LPC Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop Control
Compliant with the FC-AL2 Fibre Channel standard, the Merlin
2LPC provides loop interoperability for applications that use
customer-specific exchange management or no exchange
management at all. This innovative product is the first to integrate
state-of-the-art FC-AL2-based Fibre Channel logic with a
GigaBlaze 1.0625-Gbits/sec transceiver to implement an
arbitrated loop controller. Applications include Fibre Channel
switches, intelligent hubs and special-purpose Fibre Channel
Protocol controllers.
Merlin 2 Fibre Channel Engine (FCE)
Serving as the "brain" to the 2LPC core's "eyes and ears," the
Merlin 2 FCE handles frame transmission and reception as well
as automates other parts of the exchange process. Able to
"juggle" multiple exchanges and automate FCP SCSI I/Os, this
component ensures that traffic keeps flowing in both directions
(full duplex) at the full Fibre Channel data rate, and performs
extensive error checking and reporting. Available as part of the
Merlin 2SL and Merlin 2DL cores, the FCE has been developed
to handle the most common exchanges and sequences to ensure
Fibre Channel standard compatibility and device interoperability.
Bolt-On Modules
Bolt-on modules are those components of a Merlin-based design
that the designer can combine with Merlin 2SL and 2DL cores
and other CoreWare components (and modify or replace without
affecting Merlin 2 interoperability) to form complete single-chip
products for use in such applications as Fibre Channel host-bus
adapter cards and storage-area networks. They extend the
functionality of the FCE to process a constant stream of Fibre
Channel traffic at very high speed. Available bolt-on modules are
exchange context cache, buffer-to-buffer credit manager, transmit
prioritizer, command on second port protocol controller, and
integrated or independent transmit and receive buffers.
Merlin 2SL Core
Merlin 2SL combines the Merlin 2LPC, the Merlin 2FCE and the
bolt-on modules to form a single-port Fibre Channel controller.
Typical applications include Fibre Channel host bus adapter
cards; storage subsystem enclosure management devices; and the
next generation of Fibre Channel disk drive controllers, which
will require true dual-port capability (i.e., two Merlin 2SLs on a
single chip).
Merlin 2DL CGR
The Merlin 2DL module combines two Merlin 2LPC cores, a
loop multiplexer module, the Merlin 2FCE module and bolt-on
modules to form a dual-loop Fibre Channel controller. Because
two loop interfaces share a single FCE, the controller can
transmit or receive data on one loop while passing data through
on another. The level of redundancy built into this design makes
it ideal for controllers in Fibre Channel disk drives, tape drives,
disk arrays and host bus adapters.
CoreWare Speeds Time to Market
The Merlin 2 Fibre Channel cores are fully supported by LSI
Logic's CoreWare program, enabling them to be easily integrated
with an extensive library of pre-designed and pre-verified cores.
The CoreWare program ensures a seamless flow from high-level
description to working system-on-a-chip. By integrating cores,
RAM and user-defined logic to optimize designs for target
applications, the CoreWare program reduces development time
and overall system cost while increasing system performance and
reliability.
About Fibre Channel Technology
Fibre Channel is an ANSI-standard, high-speed data
communications serial I/0 interconnect technology that provides
gigabit transmission rates for storage, server and
high-performance networking environments. Fibre Channel
provides the connectivity and bandwidth needed to move large
data files between storage, server, and client nodes by combining
the speed, low latency and simplicity of channels with the
flexibility of networks. Able to be implemented in point-to-point,
shared loops and scaled switch topologies for a variety of
application requirements, Fibre Channel is ideal for
high-performance, networked-based storage, computer
clustering, storage backup/recovery systems and digital
audio/video networks.
Availability
LSI Logic is currently engaged with customers utilizing the new
Merlin 2 cores. LSI Logic will demonstrate the core in customer
applications at Comdex in the Fibre Channel Loop Community
exhibit island, Room N246, Las Vegas Convention Center,
November 16-20.
About LSI Logic
LSI Logic Corporation, the System on a Chip Company(R), is a
leading supplier of custom high-performance semiconductors,
with operations worldwide. The company enables customers to
build complete systems on a single chip with its CoreWare design
program, thereby increasing performance, lowering system costs
and accelerating time to market. LSI Logic develops
application-optimized products in partnership with trendsetting
customers, and operates leading-edge, high-volume
manufacturing facilities to produce submicron chips. LSI Logic is
headquartered at 1551 McCarthy Boulevard, Milpitas, California
95035, 408-433-8000, www.lsilogic.com.
Reader inquiries should be directed to 800-574-4286 within the
U.S. and Canada, or 3211-300351 within Europe, or
408-433-7700 for all other countries. Ask for Dept. CPNR14.
NOTE: The LSI Logic logo design, CoreWare and The System
on a Chip Company are registered trademarks and GigaBlaze and
Merlin are trademarks of LSI Logic Corporation. All other brand
or product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective companies. SOURCE LSI Logic Corporation
Copyright 1998, PR Newswire
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