Packlight Networks Utilizes High-Performance Xilinx Platform FPGAs For Optical Transport

Virtex-II FPGAs provide key functionality while enabling flexibility to meet customer requirements and changes in the network

- Xilinx, Inc. (NASDAQ:XLNX) today announced that PacketLight Networks, a leading provider of carrier-class multi-service metro optical transport solutions, selected Xilinx Virtex-II FPGAs as a key enabling technology in its PL-16000 carrier-class integrated optical transport system. PacketLight Networks is among a growing number of companies utilizing Xilinx high performance low cost FPGAs to gain a competitive advantage in Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) applications.

PacketLight Network solutions radically reduce costs, optimize resources and deliver maximum flexibility in meeting unpredictable market demands and evolving technological developments. Xilinx FPGAs provided PacketLight Networks with the unique ability to modify the hardware throughout the design process, and allows the design to evolve even after customer installation.

"Xilinx FPGA technology is used as one of the major building blocks in our adaptable solution," said Yaki Luzon, vice president of marketing at PacketLight Networks. "Virtex-II FPGAs provided us our core functionality while enabling flexibility to meet customer requirements and evolution of the network in a very short turn around."

PacketLight Networks also took advantage of Xilinx's vast IP library, including the Xilinx SPI-4.2 The Xilinx SPI-4.2 core is quickly being adopted as the standard bridging technology providing flexible connectivity solutions for a diverse spectrum interfacing requirements including industry standard ASSPs including network processors. The Xilinx 4.2i ISE software design environment provided PacketLight with ease of design and a significant time to market advantage.

PacketLight utilized the ChipScope ILA tool, inherent in Xilinx Virtex-II FPGAs to view all the internal signals and nodes within the FPGA. Modeling large systems for carrier class networking such as PacketLight Networks, requires high performance FPGAs with ample routing resources. "The ability to observe the internal operations of the logic in an FPGA is a real benefit that speeds up system design," said Luzon. "With ChipScope, a design problem can be resolved within hours."

PacketLight Networks optical transport system and use of Xilinx FPGA technology underscores our ability to improve product development cycles and critical time-to-market pressures," said Robert Bielby, senior director of strategic solutions at Xilinx. "As standards continue to change in the realm of metro area networks it's clear that FPGAs are a key component in making MAN companies successful in the communications market."

About Xilinx Virtex-II Platform FPGAs
Xilinx attributes much of its recent growth to the success of its Virtex-II line of FPGAs, and the traction the family has made since its introduction in 2001. The Virtex Series is the world's most popular high performance FPGA with over 80 percent of the business for FPGAs at 1.5V and below. Xilinx customers worldwide are taking full advantage of the unique combination of price, performance, density, and flexibility of the Virtex-II series. ASIC alternatives simply cannot offer the reprogrammability of an FPGA.

About the PacketLight Networks PL-16000
With its ability to map any service to any wavelength in any combination, the PL-16000 system is the most efficient multi-service Metro DWDM available. It allows carriers to aggregate Gigabit Ethernet, ESCON, Fibre Channel, SONET/SDH and PDH in any combination in a single OC-192/STM-64 or OC-48/STM-16 wavelength. The system supports from one to 32 wavelengths.

Xilinx Online Resource for MAN Design
In addition to providing high performance silicon, software, and IP, the Xilinx eSP web portal (www.xilinx.com/esp) is a proven resource for engineers, with over seven million visits since its introduction. The latest segment on the eSP Web portal is dedicated to accelerating the development of MAN and optical networking products.

About PacketLight Networks
PacketLight Networks offers an advanced integrated optical transport system for Metropolitan Area Networks. The PL-16000's innovative optical networking technology supports multiple services over DWDM, enabling carriers to economically provide businesses with a variety of high-bandwidth services in a dynamic environment. PacketLight's investors include Carlyle Europe Venture Partners, Pitango Venture Capital, Portview Communications Partners, and ADC Telecommunications (NasdaqNM: ADCT-news). PacketLight has offices in Boston, Paris, and Israel. Additional information about PacketLight is available at www.packetlight.com.

About Xilinx
Xilinx, Inc. (NASDAQ: XLNX) is the worldwide leader of programmable logic solutions. Additional information about Xilinx is available at www.xilinx.com.