Intel Delivers Standards-Based Software For Network Processors

Intel® IXA Portability Framework Supports Network Processing Forum's Emerging Network Processing Specifications

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Dec. 16, 2002 -- Intel Corporation has created a software toolkit based on standards developed by the Network Processing Forum (NPF) that will reduce time to market for developers and assure interoperability with other standards-based network processing solutions.

The Intel® Control Plane Platform Development Kit (CP-PDK) will be offered as a component of the Intel® Internet Exchange Architecture (IXA) Software Development Kit 3.0, an integrated development environment for Intel® IXA network processors.

The NPF is a collection of more than 70 companies in the networking industry that are establishing common specifications that facilitate and accelerate the development of networking and telecommunications products based on network processing technologies.

The CP-PDK is a software toolkit for rapid integration of control plane protocol stacks with data plane sub-systems. Featuring an extensible architecture compliant with the NPF software foundation and Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) ForCES messaging protocol, the PDK supports separation of the control and data plane functions allowing parallel development for quicker time to market.

It also includes a modular design for easily integrating additional standards-based or custom APIs, and is portable across any combination of control plane processor, real-time operating system, network processor and interconnect.

Intel is a strong supporter and major contributor to the NPF. Intel has made significant contributions in the Software and Hardware Working Groups, the Benchmarking Working Group, and the Technical Education and Marketing Working Group. Intel plans to continue to incorporate all future NPF-ratified Software Infrastructure APIs into the PDK.

"NPF-member company experts have delivered a high-value, far-reaching software framework that will accelerate design efforts, resulting in faster time-to NPU-based functionality in a variety of communications equipment market segments," said Chuck Sannipoli, NPF board member. "These common specifications will encourage wider adoption and accelerated deployment of NPU-based platforms."

Intel currently ships the Intel® IXA SDK to more than 300 distinct networking OEMs, TEMs, distributors, universities, IXA developers, system integrators, consultants and telecommunications carriers worldwide.

"This broad ecosystem will now have the opportunity to develop a broad range of exciting applications based on Intel IXA network processors and be assured that these applications will interoperate with other standards based network processing solutions," said Doug Davis, general manager of Intel's Network Processor Division.

Intel has licensed early releases of the NPF-compliant software tools to Consystant, Cypress, FutureSoft, IP Infusion, Radisys, Silicon and Software Systems, and Teja Technologies.

By taking advantage of standards-based off-the-shelf hardware and software components, system designers can focus on new intelligent network innovations, rather than component integration tasks.

The combination of Intel's network processing silicon and standards-based software allows manufacturers to reduce resources and time to market.

Intel also offers comprehensive software support and services to complete custom software solutions for network systems developers. Using the PDK, Intel can deliver complete NPF standards-compliant solutions to Intel's network processor customers.

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