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Agilent Technologies Introduces Industry's First Fibre Channel Controller IC with Error Detection for Storage Networking Applications
Code Safeguards Corporate Data by Ensuring Early Detection of Data
Corruption in Storage Subsystems
PALO ALTO, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Oct. 23, 2003—
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) today introduced the industry's
first 2 Gb/s dual-channel Fibre Channel controller to include error
detection code (EDC) for early detection of data corruption in storage
subsystems. EDC ensures end-to-end data integrity from the host server
to the target storage devices, providing companies with increased
reliability and safeguarding of valuable corporate data.
"The ever-increasing speeds in storage require more rigorous
measures to preserve data integrity," said Erik Ottem, marketing
director of Agilent's Storage Networking Division. "Being first to
market with EDC in silicon is another significant milestone for
Agilent, and well positions the new Agilent Tachyon DX2+ chip with
storage OEMs."
As data rates continue to evolve from 2 Gb/s to 4 Gb/s and 10
Gb/s, the need to detect and correct corrupted data becomes
increasingly vital. Current techniques are based on proprietary
schemes and lack the system-level interoperability necessary to
provide universal SCSI error detection and correction. The Agilent
HPFC-5600 Tachyon DX2+ Fibre Channel controller IC uses EDC to flag
the data error and inform the memory subsystem's software driver. The
driver can then take corrective measures to recover the I/O.
This fifth-generation Agilent Tachyon controller offers
industry-leading performance for storage subsystems, SCSI to Fibre
Channel bridges, host bus adapters, and mid-to-high-end storage
applications that use multi-processor systems. The dual-channel 2 Gb/s
single-chip HPFC-5600 advances the existing Tachyon DX2 dual-channel
architecture by combining a complete hardware-based solution that uses
an EDC protection algorithm for interfacing between Fibre Channel mass
storage devices and the main memory of the subsystem.
The Agilent HPFC-5600's EDC algorithm maintains the SCSI command
structure and architecture model, and enables EDC to stay with the
data for its entire life within the storage array. It allows a
protection domain to be initiated, propagated and terminated by using
a standard mechanism to guard the data, enhancing end-to-end data
integrity.
The Agilent HPFC-5600 supports dual-channel, full duplex Fibre
Channel port operation, which saves valuable board space for system
manufacturers. It features 1 Gb/s and 2 Gb/s operation, and provides
backward compatibility to previous-generation Tachyon controllers. The
HPFC-5600 interfaces to the industry-standard 33 and 66 MHz PCI and
66/100/133 MHz PCI-X (enhanced PCI) bus architecture with 32 and
64-bit support. Agilent's proven state machine architecture scales
proportionately with system CPU resources to avoid performance
bottlenecks associated with on-chip processors. This architecture
allows simultaneous, parallel processing of inbound data, outbound
data, and hardware control and commands to maximize bandwidth and
minimize latency and I/O overhead.
U.S. Pricing and Availability
The Agilent HPFC-5600 Tachyon DX2+ Fibre Channel controller IC is
available in samples to select customers through Agilent's direct
sales channel. Volume production is expected in the first quarter of
2004; pricing will be set at that time. Also available are the
complementary Tachyon software development kit version 3.3 and Fibre
Channel adapter boards based on the dual-channel Tachyon DX2+
architecture.
Agilent Storage Networking Solutions
Agilent is a leading supplier of 1 and 2 Gb/s Fibre Channel
solutions for the high-performance, enterprise-class SAN market, and
is a world leader in fiber optics and ICs for the Ethernet market.
Agilent provides industry-leading Tachyon Fibre Channel controllers,
InfiniBand switch ICs, fiber optics, physical layer ICs, and
integrated Fibre Channel and iSCSI adapter boards. Agilent also offers
test and measurement solutions for the storage networking market. More
information is available at www.agilent.com/view/storage.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a global technology leader
in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis.
The company's 30,000 employees serve customers in more than 110
countries. Agilent had net revenue of $6 billion in fiscal year 2002.
Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Please direct reader inquiries to Agilent
Semiconductor Products Group at 800-235-0312, or e-mail us at
semiconductorsupport@agilent.com. Further technology, corporate
citizenship and executive news is available on the Agilent news site
at www.agilent.com/go/news.
Contact:
Agilent Technologies
Mark Alden, 408-553-2769
mark_alden@agilent.com
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