SMARTPACK Carrier Packet Engines combine packet processing and advanced traffic management in a single chip solution. Carrier Packet Engines can simultaneously a broad range of packet protocols, such as Carrier Ethernet, IP/MPLS, VPLS/PWE3, PBB-TE/PBT and T-MPLS. Advanced Traffic Management is implemented in accordance with MEF recommendations.

Carrier Packet Engines combine packet processing and traffic management in a single chip solution (i.e. an FPGA image provided by TPACK + standard FPGA device). This allows carrier grade packet transport and switching support to be implemented in single line-card footprints.

Since Carrier Packet Engines are based on FPGA devices, they allow adaptation and customization, but as standard products, Carrier Packet Engines provide a number of other advantages:

Full flexibility via virtual switching

Carrier Packet Engines provide a virtual switching solution that allows switching between virtual ports configured to support a particular packet protocol. For example, this allows switching between IP/MPLS ports and Carrier Ethernet or SPI ports supporting SONET/SDH.

Guaranteed throughput 

Carrier Packet Engines are based on a single stage processor architecture allowing switching throughput integrity no matter the traffic load. This means that the throughput does not decrease or vary as traffic load changes.

Simultaneous protocol support

Carrier Packet Engines can support several packet protocols simultaneously allowing several operations to be performed on a packet at a time. For example, if a double VLAN tagged Ethernet packet is received, the Carrier Packet Engine can remove both tags, map priority, add up to 3 MPLS labels and switch the packet at the same time.

Hardware-based OAM support

Operation, Administration and Maintenance (OAM) support is becoming increasingly important in support of carrier requirements. PBB-TE/PBT and T-MPLS in particulr require extensive OAM support. To effectively support OAM and allow rapid response to defect situations, TPACK has implemented OAM support in hardware allowing rapid protection switching and full flexibility in OAM period configuration.

The following is a list of currently available SMARTPACK Carrier Packet Engine Products:

TPX3103 52 Gbps PBB-TE/PBT, T-MPLS, VPLS Carrier Packet Engine

• Full duplex, non-blocking 52 Gbps switching solution
• Also available as 26 Gbps switching solution
• TPX3103 supports:
• PBB-TE/PBT, T-MPLS and VPLS
• Carrier Ethernet
• IP/MPLS
• PWE3
• SPI-4.2 ports for SONET/SDH/OTN virtual switching
• Hardware-based OAM packet processing
• <50msec protection switching
• High-level driver API software for ease of integration
•  TPX3103 Product Brief

TPX2530/TPX2540 13 Carrier Packet Engines

• Full duplex, non-blocking 13 Gbps switching solution
• TPX2530 supports:
  • Carrier Ethernet
  • IP/MPLS
  • VPLS/PWE3
  • SPI-3 ports for SONET/SDH/OTN virtual switching
• TPX2540 supports:
• Carrier Ethernet
• IP/MPLS
• VPLS/PWE3
• SPI-4.2 ports for SONET/SDH/OTN virtual switching
• Can optionally support PBB-TE/PBT and T-MPLS
• High-level driver API software for ease of integration
•  TPX2530/TPX2540 Product Brief

TPX2000 6 Gbps Carrier Packet Engines

• Full duplex, non-blocking 6 Gbps switching solution
• TPX2000 supports:
  • Carrier Ethernet
  • IP/MPLS
  • VPLS/PWE3
  • SPI-3 ports for SONET/SDH/OTN virtual switching
• High-level driver API software for ease of integration
•  TPX2000 Product Brief

More detailed product data sheets are available upon request. Conctact TPACK