For new network gear, it's 'IBM Inside'

When Nexabit Networks last week introduced its NX64000 switch router, the start-up couldn't take all the credit for the technology powering the blazingly fast device.

Under the NX64000's covers are Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) from none other than IBM, which has begun to make a name for itself as a provider of processors for communications gear.

The IBM chips inside Nexabit router will permit the NX64000 to perform bandwidth management and guarantee quality-of-service levels even at very high speeds, says Nexabit CEO Mukesh Chatter.

Like other network equipment makers, Nexabit was drawn to IBM for its combination of technology resources and manufacturing capabilities. Though IBM itself is not considered by most industry observers to be a network equipment market leader, its ASICs are winning over companies, such as Alcatel, Juniper Networks and Xylan. In fact, IBM has about 30 such clients, according to Pulin Shah, the company's ASIC product marketing manager.

IBM Microelectronics helps shape how third-party network gear is built through an OEM program called Blue Logic. IBM's chips handle a variety of functions, including memory management for external IP packets, media access control, port statistics collection and LAN emulation.

In a recent interview that appeared in IBM Microelec-tronics' publication MicroNews, a high-ranking IBM executive claimed the company is pushing to be the No. 1 chip supplier for all network devices.

Analysts say the market for communications ASICs is worth about $5.8 billion annually and is divvied up among a host of big name companies, including IBM, Hitachi, NEC and Texas Instruments.

Demand for Gigabit Ethernet and ATM gear should help drive demand for more powerful and intelligent chips, Shah says.

Blue Logic overview
From IBM Microelectronics

IBM's Blue Logic Strategy
Interview with Chris King, director of worldwide marketing and field engineering for IBM Microelectronics, from MicroNews.

NX64000 Multi-Terabit Switch/Router overview
From Nexabit.

Fast router feast CEOS from five high-speed router star-ups chow down on convergence, QoS and other hot topics. Includes links to additional switch router info. Network World, 11/2/98.

The fabless phenomenon
"Fabless semi" firms are building net functions into silicon, paving the way for high-powered, low-cost network gear. Network World, 3/2/98.

Modular switch backplane performance
Know where to look. Network World Fusion Focus on High Speed LANs, 10/26/98.