Milpitas, CA — (press release excerpt) — LSI Logic Corp. today introduced the first product in its HomeBASE family of digital subscriber line (xDSL) end-to-end solutions, the HomeBASE ADSL Ethernet chipset. The chipset is designed to address the cost and performance issues of the ADSL customer premise equipment (CPE) market.

Incorporating the chipset into a HomeBASE evaluation reference modem, LSI Logic provides a complete solution with all the hardware and software needed for either bridge or router mode operations. The HomeBASE solution features the performance-leading SpeedREACH transport technology and a new network processor for superior bandwidth and software performance, increasing coverage area and offering new service opportunities for DSL service providers.

The HomeBASE Ethernet modem has demonstrated the highest packet throughput-even at high line rates of 8Mbps downstream and 800kbps upstream-in both bridge and router mode when sending 64-byte short packet full duplex (the most stressful packet test, which requires greater processing power). In addition, the reference modem is in compliance with both the DSL Forum's TR-048 performance test and the new stricter rate/reach limits being proposed by the U.S. telephone companies. The modem is interoperable with industry-leading DSLAMs and compliant with all ADSL standards, including G.dmt and G.lite, with support for Annex A and B.

The HomeBASE ADSL Ethernet chipset consists of a fourth-generation analog front end (AFE, the SpeedREACH AR8202), a high-performance network processor (AR900) and an Ethernet PHY (L80225). To reduce the total BOM, cost and power, the SpeedREACH AFE integrates 14-bit linear converters, a +5V line driver, a line receiver and a digitally controlled crystal oscillator (DCXO), and consumes less than 1W. The ADSL network processor integrates the DMT engine, an ARM9 processor, a hardware-based ATM SAR, and a 10/100 Ethernet controller with scatter gather DMA, SDRAM controller and a proprietary bus bridge architecture. The company's field-proven IEEE 802.3-compliant dual-mode 10/100 Ethernet PHY completes the data distribution on the LAN side.

In addition to bridging and routing, the AR900 network processor has the capacity to run critical firewall and security software, and customizable element management tools. The processor features both an MII bus and a proprietary external bus bridge, which is highly configurable to interface with HPNA, USB or 802.11 PHYs. Use of this high-performance, single-processor core simplifies the task of programmers who are further aided by the inclusion of a open-source, royalty-free, Linux-based software stack.

The HomeBASE chipset can also address service provider requirements for product differentiation, such as voice, video and data distribution capabilities when used with LSI Logic's ZSP digital signal processing (for VoIP applications), Ethernet, USB, wireless LAN, and video products. LSI Logic's experience in developing complex system-on-a-chip designs, coupled with a strong standard product portfolio allows manufacturers to address a wide range of requirements for the broadband access market.

LSI Logic's HomeBASE ADSL Ethernet chipset is available now.

 
This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.