Embedded Linux security specialist SnapGear Inc. has announced Q4 2003 availability of a Linux distribution for the Intel IXP2400, IXP2800, and IXP2850 second-generation network processors. SnapGear says its embedded Linux distribution will enable a new range of modestly-priced, high performance network appliances based on Intel IXP2XXX processors.

Intel's IXP2800 network processor is meant for network core applications, such as ultrahigh-speed switch/routers; its IXP2400 network processor is meant for multiservice switches and similar equipment at the network edge; and, its IXP2850 is meant for virtual private networks (VPNs), secure web services, and storage area networks (SANs).

Intel already ships SnapGear's Linux distribution with development boards for the Intel IXP4XX network processor product line, meant for equipment bringing digital subscriber line (DSL), cable Internet service, and wireless networking to homes and offices.

SnapGear claims its optimized Linux kernel will provide wire speed throughput for the new platforms while delivering security functions such as firewall and multi-VPN support. The second-generation IXP2XXX product line incorporates pipelined RISC micro-engines and cryptographic acceleration, according to SnapGear, allowing wire speed fire-walling and VPN encryption up to 10Gbps.

The IXP2XXX series' unique network processing approach allows a single stream packet/cell processing problem to be decomposed into multiple, sequential tasks that can be easily linked together, SnapGear claims. The hardware design uses fast and flexible sharing of data and event signals among threads and micro-engines to manage data-dependent operations among multiple parallel processing stages with low latency. Through this combination of flexible software pipelining and fast inter-process communication, network equipment vendors can deploy rich processing capability at OC-48/2.5 Gbps line rates, according to SnapGear.

SnapGear offers a development environment for OEM customers using Intel network processor configurations for security-hardened network appliances. The company also acts as an ODM (original design manufacturer) supplier to some of the world's leading communications companies, it claims, offering turnkey product solutions for secure, Internet-ready communications.

Developers can download the SnapGear embedded Linux distribution, including the uClinux microkernel distribution, free of charge.

Rick Stevenson, CEO of SnapGear, says “The Intel network processor line coupled with our embedded Linux distribution has proven scalability. Customers don't have to change their applications to take advantage of new processor architectures, improved performance, and advanced network security features.”

Doug Davis, general manager of Intel's Network Processor Division, notes that “Working with companies like SnapGear helps ensure broad support for embedded Linux in networking appliances and secure Internet communications.”

 
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