LSI Logic Merlin(TM) Fibre Channel Core Family Boosts
Construction of Storage Area Networks
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.
/CONTACT: Lynette Szantho of LSI Logic Public Relations,
970-223-5100, ext. 9674, or lynette.szantho@lsil.com; or Matthew
Quint or Janis Ulevich of Ulevich & Orrange, Inc., 650-329-1590, or
info@U-O.com, for LSI Logic Corporation/
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