Xilinx' protocol packs for PCI Express, Gigabit Ethernet, and XAUI

Xilinx Inc., supplier of programmable solutions, announced the availability of protocol packs for PCI Express, Gigabit Ethernet, and XAUI for its 65-nm Virtex-5 family of FPGAs. The company also released protocol-specific characterization reports for SONET OC-48/SDH STM-16 and CPRI (Common Public Radio Interface). Each standard protocol pack includes protocol specific physical layer characterization reports, interoperability and compliance reports, intellectual property (IP) cores and documentation to facilitate low-risk and efficient implementation of standardized high-speed serial protocols in Virtex-5 FPGAs.

Jag Bolaria, senior analyst at The Linley Group, a market research firm, said, "Xilinx has taken the first step to set a direction for the FPGA industry by offering more than just compliance and interoperability information—now offering protocol packs which include protocol specific characterization reports and IP. Now FPGA customers can take advantage of characterization data that is typical for ASSPs, which unlike FPGAs are a point product and do not have to deal with a broad range of applications."

Steve Douglass, vice president and general manager of advanced products division at Xilinx, stated, "As the adoption of high-speed serial I/O protocols continues to increase, our Virtex-5 LXT and SXT devices with their low-power RocketIO GTP transceivers are being deployed in a growing variety of applications. By providing protocol-specific device characterization across process voltage and temperature, Xilinx is not only enabling faster design closure and reducing risk, but is also taking a tremendous leap forward in the FPGA business."

Xilinx