PMC Adds Security

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- PMC-Sierra, Inc. (Nasdaq:PMCS) today announced its first System-on-Chip (SoC) solution featuring standards-based integrated hardware security. The MSP8520(TM) Multi-Service Processor(R), which incorporates a high-performance scalable 600 MHz to one GHz E9000 MIPS-based(TM) processor with integrated security in hardware, is targeted at Small Medium Business (SMB) Network Attached Storage (NAS) storage, mid-range VPN routers and security appliances, printer/imaging systems, and mid-range routers and switches.

"Security processing is a requirement in VPN and firewall appliances and is increasingly becoming prevalent in emerging printer/imaging applications, enterprise networking and IP storage," said Martin Scott, vice president and general manager for PMC-Sierra's Microprocessor Products Division. "The integration of SafeNet's unique SafeXcel IP Packet Engine in our high-performance MSP8520 is the optimal way of meeting our customers' ever-increasing security requirements."

Highly Integrated and Scalable

The MSP8520 is a highly integrated SoC featuring a high-performance E9000 MIPS-based processor, which can scale from 600 MHz to one GHz operating frequencies and has a fully integrated at-speed 256KB low-latency level two cache. This enables the MSP8520 to leverage the comprehensive offering of optimized compilers, operating systems and third-party debug tool support currently available in PMC-Sierra RM7965, RM7935 and RM7900 MIPS-based products.

The MSP8520 SoC also supports cryptographic acceleration for security algorithms and protocols such as Internet Protocol Security (IPsec), Secure Socket Layer (SSL), Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol (SRTP). This results in IPSec and SSL performance of over 500Mbps. It involves minimum CPU utilization in security packet processing, thus freeing up essential CPU cycles for customer applications. This implementation, when combined with the powerful and silicon-proven E9000 CPU, enables high-performance applications at a low system Bill-of-Materials costs and low power dissipation.

In a separate release:

BALTIMORE -- SafeNet, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFNT), setting the standard for information security, today announced that PMC-Sierra (NASDAQ:PMCS) has licensed SafeNet's silicon-proven SafeXcel IP Packet Engine to add powerful security capabilities to PMC-Sierra's MSP8520(TM) Multi-Service Processor(R) for secure networking, IP storage and printer/imaging applications.

"Our customers demand powerful security as an essential feature of high-performance microprocessor SoC solutions," said Martin Scott, vice president and general manager of PMC-Sierra's Microprocessor Products Division. "The integration of SafeNet's unique SafeXcel IP Packet Engine into PMC-Sierra's feature-rich MIPS-based(TM) processors allows our customers to build applications that meet today's demanding requirements for cost-effective security at high performance."

The security functionality in PMC-Sierra's MSP8520 processor is provided by SafeNet's SafeXcel IP Packet Engine--a highly integrated cryptographic accelerator for security algorithms and protocols such as Internet Protocol Security (IPsec), Secure Socket Layer (SSL), Transport Layer Security (TLS), and Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol (SRTP). Designed for the unique needs of semiconductor manufacturers, the SafeXcel IP Packet Engine features outstanding versatility, ease of integration, and performance.

"With the trend toward integration of multiple security functions into a single chip, our silicon-proven security module is a perfect fit for PMC-Sierra's high performance MIPS-based processors," said Henk Pruim, vice president and general manager, SafeNet OEM Networking Division. "Together with SafeNet's QuickSec VPN software, the processors will provide OEMs with a complete security solution that is very cost effective and easy to integrate."

PMC-Sierra Inc. (Nasdaq: PMCS)