NetEffect Uses Tensilica’s Xtensa Processor Technology in High-Performance Ethernet Communications Products

Configurable Processor Provides Performance Boost Needed For 10Gigabit Communications Speeds

AUSTIN, Texas – July 12, 2004 - NetEffect, Inc. has chosen the Xtensa processor technology from Tensilica, Inc., for their high-performance Ethernet communications products. NetEffect is a leader in developing next generation multi-Gigabit Ethernet solutions for data center applications. These solutions are redefining the data center by enabling server-to-server and server-to-storage communication over a unified network fabric using new iWARP standards for adding RDMA and ULDA features to Ethernet. NetEffect’s patent pending architecture is capable of supporting all data center traffic for networking, NAS and SAN storage, and clustering while delivering the highest performance throughput with the lowest overhead. These NetEffect products eliminate the high cost of context switching that is present in all of today’s network traffic, support directly placing data between applications on two different systems without operating system or processor overhead, and remove the burden of TCP/IP processing from the server or storage processor. These benefits of NetEffect’s iWARP solutions will enhance mainstream networking and increase application performance both within and across servers.

“I’m gratified that our emergence from stealth has created an opportunity to recognize key technology partners. We selected Tensilica’s Xtensa processor because of the ease with which we can optimize certain functions for our high-speed, demanding Ethernet communications,” stated Rick Maule, NetEffect’s CEO. “Tensilica’s automated process enabled us to try different configurations and pick the best one, optimized for our exact application, in a fraction of the time that it would take us using other alternatives.”

“NetEffect’s application is a natural fit for our Xtensa processor generator technology,” stated Bernie Rosenthal, senior vice president of marketing and sales for Tensilica. “By building their high-speed data processing into multiple configured processors, they can build a highly flexible and upgradeable chip-based solution.”

About NetEffect

NetEffect’s silicon products address one of the most critical problems facing data centers – with data center traffic growing at unprecedented rates, today’s networking technologies simply cannot supply the required bandwidth. By incorporating the next-generation iWARP extensions to Ethernet, NetEffect’s communication chips and software allow Ethernet to scale to meet data center demands. While providing complete compatibility with existing Ethernet networks, NetEffect’s technology virtually eliminates networking overhead, enabling the delivery of multi-gigabit Ethernet and true convergence of data center traffic over a unified network fabric for networking, NAS and SAN storage, and clustering.

About Tensilica

Tensilica was founded in July 1997 to address the growing need for optimized, application-specific microprocessors for high-volume embedded applications. With the Xtensa and Xtensa LX configurable and extensible microprocessor cores, Tensilica is the only company that has automated and patented the time-consuming process of generating a customized microprocessor core along with a complete software-development tool environment, producing new configurations in a matter of hours. These customized processors rival hand-coded RTL in performance and add a needed level of programmability. For more information, visit www.tensilica.com.

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Editors’ Notes:

• Tensilica and Xtensa are registered trademarks belonging to Tensilica Inc.
• Tensilica’s announced licensees include Agilent, ALPS, AMCC (JNI Corporation), Astute Networks, Avision, Bay Microsystems, Berkeley Wireless Research Center, Broadcom, Cisco Systems, Conexant Systems, Cypress, Crimson Microsystems, ETRI, FUJIFILM Microdevices, Fujitsu Ltd., Hudson Soft, Hughes Network Systems, Ikanos Communications, LG Electronics, Marvell, MediaWorks, NEC Laboratories America, NEC Corporation, NetEffect, Nippon Telephone and Telegraph (NTT), Olympus Optical Co. Ltd., S2io, Solid State Systems, Sony, STMicroelectronics, Stretch Inc., TranSwitch Corporation, and Victor Company of Japan (JVC)