Networking software specialist LVL7 Systems is shipping a version of its high-end Layer-2 Ethernet switching stack aimed at Linux devices for the small- and medium-sized business (SMB) market. Fastpath SMB additionally targets blade server switches and industrial automation, the company says.

LVL7 originally shipped its Fastpath product line in March of 2002, as part of an “aggressive Linux strategy” that included Red Hat and MontaVista partnerships. The Fastpath line includes network stacks for chassis, rackmount, and standalone enterprise layer 2, 3, and 4 switches, as well as routers, WLAN systems, and access devices.

The new SMB version of Fastpath offers Layer 2 switching capabilities, along with select QoS (quality-of-service) and management functions aimed at high performance with cost efficiencies, the company says. It can be deployed in Linux devices with 8MB of Flash and 32MB of DRAM or more.

LVL7 says it has ported Fastpath SMB to a pair of Broadcom chipsets targeting low-cost managed fast Ethernet switches, including the RoboSwitch and StrataXGS chipsets, with other silicon ports to follow.

LVL7 brought in $12.5M in funding in 2002, and was named by Deloitte to a 2004 list of fast-growing private companies in North Carolina.

Availability

Fastpath SMB is available now for Linux, but was designed for silicon, operating system, and CPU independence, the company says.

 
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