Nortel Networks Speeds Design and Cuts Costs for IP Access Switch
 Nortel
Networks' Versalar Switch Router 15000 is a dedicated Internet protocol
access switch with extremely high port density, providing access, traffic
management, and accounting information for over 1,000 simultaneous Internet
protocol sessions. The Versalar 15000 was designed for the rapidly growing
areas of leased line concentration, virtual private networking, and remote
point-of-presence (POP) back-haul concentration for Internet and carrier
networks. In the process of designing the Versalar 15000, the Nortel design
team was tasked with rapidly completing the project while still meeting
stringent cost, quality, and performance goals. Though the team was very
familiar with ASIC solutions, their investigation of the alternatives
revealed that in many cases, programmable logic would do a better job
of reducing development costs, reducing risk, and shortening time-to-market.
For some of the team members, it was their first exposure to high-density
programmable logic, but by the end of the project, they had designed over
200 Altera devices into each switch, including FLEX 10KA and MAX®
7000 devices, some up to 50K gates in size. Nortel hardware engineering
manager Kevin Klapper said, "A year or two ago, many of these designs
would have required ASICs. For this project, we designed in programmable
devices that are going to remain in the product throughout its lifespan."
Nortel Networks' choice of programmable logic was influenced by the presence
of embedded array blocks (EABs) in Altera's FLEX 10K devices. EABs are
better suited to the deep memory functions needed in many communications
applications, and their speed and resource efficiency meant that the design
team's performance and cost goals could be easily met with Altera's products.
Another large factor was the streamlined design flow: the team desired
a pushbutton approach to facilitate quick design turnaround, and they
were able to create one with the high level of integration between the
tools from Altera and Synplicity. The team also avoided the expense and
delay of ASIC respins, since they were able to make design modifications
as needed, in real time. Assisted by Altera programmable logic, Nortel
Networks' design team was able to complete their project in 15 months,
from concept to first customer shipment. "If we had developed new ASICs,"
said Klapper, "it would have added at least three months to the design
cycle."
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