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With the new TNETX3100 Ethernet switch from Texas Instruments, designers of networking systems can now cost-effectively bring increased bandwidth to the desktop. The device, named Desktop ThunderSWITCH™ 8/2, is the latest in TI's industry-leading family of networking products and allows manufacturers to build Ethernet switches for the same cost as today's repeaters. For end-users, this means the freedom to add dedicated 10-Mbps switched bandwidth for their small office and home office applications at less than $50 per port street price. This price point will enable switch manufacturers to place products in retail electronics stores, furthering the migration of switching to a new market niche. And TI is making it easy for manufacturers to bring the benefits of networking to end-users for the first time. TI provides customers with a reference kit, which essentially has been designed and manufactured as an entire switch box -- something no other silicon manufacturer can do. The kit significantly reduces customers' time-to-market, because they can give the box, design and bill of materials to their manufacturing teams and have a product in record time. It enables customers who don't have product-design resources to get into the market, and large electronics companies with brand recognition in the retail channel can use it to get into the networking side of the business.
Functionally, the TNETX3100 integrates eight 10 Mbps and two 10/100 Ethernet media access controllers (MACs) onto a single piece of silicon. All ports on the device support multiple-addresses as well as full-duplex, cut-through or store-and-forward modes of operation. Each port is terminated with TI's industry-standard physical layer device (PHYs). Desktop ThunderSWITCH is designed to offer a migration path from existing local area networks (LANs) as well as protection for proprietary technology. System integrators can use one of its 10/100 Mbps MACs as an uplink to high-speed switching fabrics or ATM backbones. Lower system cost through integration With all of TI's networking products, high levels of integration are key and provide the system cost savings that make next-generation technology affordable. The TNETX3100 is no exception. It combines in a single device the functionality typically implemented in several large and expensive ASICs. In addition to its eight 10 Mbps MACs and two 10/100 Mbps MAC uplinks, the device integrates the ability to forward packets from multiple addresses along with a high-performance switching engine, management extensions and system interface that greatly reduces the number of external components required. The high-performance switching engine provides sufficient bandwidth and a collision-based flow control that ensures a packet is never dropped. An onboard DRAM controller designed for packet memory operation enables designers to use fast and cost-effective EDO DRAM memory. Finally, the device further lowers system cost with an EEPROM interface that allows initialization and configuration with no additional CPU.
Network management The TNETX3100 is optimized for full visibility of traffic through the switch. Combined with per-port statistics gathering and virtual LAN (VLAN) support, it delivers complete network management. Again, these capabilities further reduce system cost by reducing overhead and permitting lower-cost system CPUs. Specific network management capabilities include on-chip, per-port storage for Etherstat and remote monitoring (RMON) statistics as well as support for the Simple-Network Management Protocol (SNMP). The device provides an LED interface that indicates link activity, collision, port status and TXQ status. ThunderSWITCH -- the choice for today's networks The TNETX3100 is an important part of TI's rapidly growing lineup of networking products. It is available from TI and authorized distributors. Suggested resale pricing in quantities of 10,000 is $65. ThunderSWITCH is a trademark of Texas Instruments.
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