Three PLX ExpressLane Switches Passed PCI-SIG Compliance Tests

PLX Technology, Inc. announced three PLX ExpressLane PCIe Gen3 switches have passed the testing procedures of the PCI-SIG Compliance Workshop and are now on the group’s PCIe 3.0 integrators list.

It is the only PCIe switch vendor to date that achieved Gen3 compliance.

The ExpressLane switches – PEX8725 (24 lanes, 10 ports), PEX8734 (32 lanes, 8 ports), and PEX8749 (48 lanes, 18 ports) – are developed on 40nm technology. These three devices are members of PLX’s family of 18 PCIe Gen3 switches ranging from 12 to 96 lanes and three to 24 ports, which the company has been shipping to hundreds of customers for more than two years. In addition to the selection, these products offer multi-host/multi-root switching capabilities that enable designers to connect multiple hosts to their respective end-points via scalable, high-bandwidth, non-blocking interconnections to applications including servers, storage, and communications.

The devices, often used for fan-out, also offer hot-plug controllers, virtual channels, and spread spectrum clock (SSC) isolation capability. The PEX8725 and PEX8749 feature on-chip direct memory access (DMA) engines that provide the capability to move large amount of data from local memory to devices attached to the switch; thus allowing use of CPU cycles for other applications. Furthermore, these devices feature on-chip and software-backed debug and diagnostic tools including Rx eye measurements, packet generation, data logging, and error counting – tools that help eliminate the need for test equipment for bring-up and run-time monitoring of designs using PLX switches.

“PLX leadership in PCIe-compliant interconnect solutions is highlighted by 46 switches, bridges and development kits being approved for the highly regarded PCI-SIG PCIe 2.0 Integrators List,” said Eugene Cabanban, marketing manager, PCIe solutions, PLX. “Our goal is to gain compliance across the board for PLX’s growing Gen3 portfolio by continuing to take our switches to future compliance testing events, as some companies refer to the list when making purchasing decisions. Meanwhile, our Gen3 switches share a common switching architecture and SerDes so designers can use all of our Gen3 switches with full confidence.“

The company has over 70% market share in PCIe switch products, offering 18 ExpressLane PCIe Gen3 switches. It has more Gen3 switches in development to enable its ExpressFabric initiative, enterprise storage, and other key cloud/data center applications, while in parallel is planning for PCIe Gen4 products.