SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 26, 2013 –Tabula Inc., advancing programmable logic solutions for network infrastructure systems, today announced a comprehensive suite of high-performance packet processing solutions. The suite solves the most challenging problems posed by the transition from 10 to 40G and 100G: specifically, routing of high-performance buses, on-chip RAM throughput, and timing closure for the ultra-high-performance functions required by these systems.
The packet processing solutions, combined with Tabula’s new ABAX2P1 3PLD (the first of the ABAX2 PSeries), deliver unique capabilities such as the processing of four 100G streams on a single chip, a search engine capable of supporting 100G packet traffic, and a 12x10G-to-100G bridge. These breakthroughs are enabled by Tabula’s industry-leading technologies in four key areas: 1) Programmable 3D architecture, 2) RTL compiler, 3) leading-edge process technology, and 4) 3PLD devices. Tabula will demonstrate its high-performance packet processing solutionsduring the company’s first series of Spacetime Forums, beginning April 8th. This series of one-day technical seminars will continue through May across a dozen cities in North America, Asia, and Europe. Over 250 engineers from key telecom and network system OEMs are expected to attend.
“With the migration from 10G to 40G and 100G, FPGA users are having a hard time delivering the kind of throughput needed by these systems,” said Rich Wawrzyniak, Senior Market Analyst: ASIC & SoC, at Semico Research Corp. “With this set of programmable solutions, Tabula is demonstrating that their 3PLD can support four 100G streams on a single programmable device, something not achievable on other programmable solutions.”
The high-performance packet processing reference design suite is composed of:
- A 12x10G-to-100G bridge reference design kit, implementing an aggregation function commonly used in communications systems and using the ABAX2P1 device’s unique highperformance commonly used in communications systems and using the ABAX2P1 device’s unique highperformance bus-handling capabilities.
- A 4x100G switch reference design kit, targeting data center migration from 10G to 40G and 100G, is made possible by the ABAX2P1 device’s ability to process multiple 100G streams.
- A 2nd-generation Ternary Search Engine (TSE) reference design kit, delivering the highperformance search capabilities required for leading-edge routers and NGFW while showcasing the ABAX2P1 device’s unmatched RAM capabilities.
To facilitate user design, the company also delivers a complete set of design examples and soft IP cores tailored for many of the most performance-critical functions found in high-performance packet processing equipment. Examples include a 600Gbps packet classifier, a 100Gbps 64-bit CRC generator, and a 1.3Tbps L2 packet parser.
“The capabilities we have demonstrated are simply out of reach of even the most advanced FPGAs,” said Dennis Segers, Tabula’s Chief Executive Officer. “With this comprehensive suite of programmable solutions, we are uniquely supporting the migration from 10G to 40G and 100G that is currently underway.”
Tabula’s four core technology components
- The Spacetime 3D architecture employs time, rather than space, as a third dimension, rapidly reprogramming every resource on the chip to perform multiple, different functions per user cycle – up to 12 in the current generation. Chips using Spacetime, called 3PLDs, are nevertheless presented as having three spatial dimensions with all of their resources distributed across 12 floors or folds, which dramatically reduces die size vs. FPGAs. In addition, all components in a 3PLD – logic, RAM, multiply/accumulate blocks, and interconnect – operate in concert at up to 2 GHz, eliminating the performance bottlenecks that exist in FPGAs.
- The Stylus compiler integrates cutting-edge technologies, such as sequential timing, routeraware placement, and automatic co-optimization of performance and density to offer simpler, more intuitive RTL design and a faster timing closure loop.
- Tabula’s partnership with Intel has provided for the manufacture of the ABAX2 P-Series of devices on Intel’s advanced 22nm Tri-Gate process. The 3D Tri-Gate transistors, the most advanced in the world, provide unmatched speed at low operating voltage for reduced power. Production scalability to meet the highest volume demands is supported via this key alliance.
- The ABAX2P1 3PLD is a 12-fold Spacetime device that delivers unique RAM and logic fabric capabilities alongside tailored, hard IP blocks: a combination that makes the chip and future members of the ABAX2 P-Series well-suited for the most demanding packet processing applications.
By leveraging all four of these components, Tabula’s high-performance packet processing suite provides a programmable solution that delivers industry-leading performance and can readily implement even the most challenging communications/network functions.
More about ABAX2P1
The ABAX2P1 3PLD integrates key capabilities that enable system designers to implement highperformance routers, switches, NGFW, and other communication systems. They include:
- A programmable fabric supporting 2 GHz throughput through every component of the chip – logic, RAM, MAC blocks, and interconnect
- 23.3 Mbytes of 12- and 24-port on-chip memory delivering 13.8TB/s of throughput – enough to support multiple 100G streams
- Multiple, built-in, hard, DDR3 controllers operating at 2.133 GT/s, the maximum DDR3 rate, delivering the bandwidth necessary to support external packet buffering or storage of search tables for multiple 100G streams
- Multiple, built-in, hard, 100G Ethernet MACs to ensure easy timing closure and low resource utilization of these ultra-high-performance standard blocks
Availability
The initial set of high-performance packet processing solutions is incorporated in Stylus and is available now. Additional suite offerings are scheduled to be released on a monthly basis. Engineering samples of ABAX2P1 will be available in Q3.
About Tabula
Tabula is the industry’s most innovative programmable logic solutions provider, delivering breakthrough capabilities for today’s most challenging systems applications. The company’s ABAX2 family of generalpurpose 3D Programmable Logic Devices (3PLDs), based on Tabula’s patented Spacetime architecture and supported by its Stylus compiler, sets a new benchmark for the capability of programmable devices at volume price points, enabling re-programmability not only in FPGA applications but also in those historically served only by ASICs or ASSPs. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, Tabula has over 130 employees and has assembled a leadership team consisting of industry veterans and successful entrepreneurs. Tabula is backed by top-tier investors with a long-term view toward enduring market leadership. For more information, please visit the Tabula website at www.tabula.com
