Multicore processors are quickly overtaking network processors for applications requiring packet processing at 10 Gbit/s or less. Currently, this is the sweet spot in the market, with rapidly growing volumes and customers looking for new capabilities. Multicore processors are more flexible than network processors, with cores that can run standard operating systems, network management, and packet processing functions. Network processors are still the preferred option for higher-bandwidth applications up to 100 Gbit/s and some applications requiring high-touch packet processing at 10 Gbit/s. Communications processors with one or two cores and hardware acceleration for networking dominate the low end.

The introduction of multicore processors with eight or 16 standard cores optimized for networking applications has opened up new opportunities for system developers. The initial devices had 10-Gbit/s interfaces, but they could not handle 10-Gbit/s packet processing in most applications. With the introduction of 90nm, 65nm, and now 40nm silicon devices, vendors have significantly increased processor performance so that 10-Gbit/s packet processing is easily achievable for most applications. The network processor vendors remaining are switching focus to applications requiring more than 10-Gbit/s packet processing. Also coming in on this market are vendors with dual/quad-core general-purpose processors that are being scaled to eight or more cores.

That is one key finding in the latest issue of Heavy Reading Components Insider, "TEMs Rate Multicore & Network Processor Suppliers," based on an exclusive worldwide survey that drew responses from over 70 professionals that represent more than 50 different equipment vendors and system manufacturers. The report covers the use of multicore and network processors providing unique insight into the current state of the market and highlighting the bandwidth and features that will be required from the next generation of packet processors. It also covers the use of dual/quad-core general purpose processors and includes vendor rankings for multicore, network, and communications processor vendors.

The survey also confirmed that telecom equipment manufacturers are already designing 100-Gbit/s capable network processors. EZchip Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: EZCH) is now sampling the NP-4, which was first announced in 2007. This device will handle 100-Gbit/s throughput or 50-Gbit/s full duplex. Both Bay Microsystems Inc. and Xelerated Inc. have also announced 100-Gbit/s devices. The Bay Microsystems Chesapeake 40/100-Gbit/s device is available, and the Xelerated HX330 100-Gbit/s network processor is expected to sample during the first half of 2010. These devices have been designed specifically for metro Ethernet applications, identified in the survey as the leading application for multicore and network processors.

Multicore processors are available from Cavium Networks Inc. (Nasdaq: CAVM), NetLogic Microsystems Inc. (Nasdaq: NETL), Sun Microsystems Inc. , and Tilera. Cavium was first with a product and is the current market leader. The Cavium Octeon and Octeon Plus devices integrate up to 16 600MHz or 1GHz cores. The first Octeon II devices are sampling now with additional devices being released during 2010. With six enhanced cores running at up to 1.5 GHz, the initial Octeon II devices deliver similar performance to Octeon Plus, but at significantly lower power and cost. Later devices will scale up to 32 cores. NetLogic is also introducing a third-generation device: The XLP832 is expected to deliver a 3x performance per Watt improvement over existing NetLogic 8 core XLR multicore devices.

Dual/quad-core general-purpose processors are available from Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC), Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD), and Freescale Semiconductor Inc. , and are widely used for control plane and system management functions. Intel will introduce six-core processors during the first half of 2010 and is working on devices with eight or more cores. In 2008 Freescale introduced the QorIQ family of communications processors. These devices integrate one to eight Power Architecture e500 cores running at up to 1.5 GHz. Other vendors, including Broadcom Corp. (Nasdaq: BRCM), LSI Corp. (NYSE: LSI), and Wintegra Inc. , have communications processors integrating one, two, or more general-purpose cores and packet processing acceleration. All these vendors have been rated by respondents to the survey.

Multicore processors, network processors, communications processors, and general-purpose processors are used in high performance networking equipment. It's important for investors, system developers, and processor vendors to understand which devices are gaining traction, how users rank vendors, and which features are required for future systems. Multicore processors are well positioned for standard platforms, such as ATCA where most blades are 10 Gbit/s and flexibility is key. As network bandwidths grow, the sweet spot will move up from 10 Gbit/s, and system developers will be looking for the winning combination of flexibility, integration, performance, and cost.

— Simon Stanley, Analyst, Heavy Reading Components Insider

This report, TEMs Rate Multicore & Network Processor Suppliers, is available for $1,595. For more information please visit: www.heavyreading.com/commchip.