PR Newswire
Aug 2, 2006 07:00 ET

Micrel Rolls out Latest in Family of 2-Port Ethernet Switch Solutions for Networking and Industrial Applications

SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Micrel Inc., (NASDAQ:MCRL) , an industry leader in analog, high bandwidth communications and Ethernet IC solutions, today launched the KSZ8862-16MQL and KSZ8862-32MQL, the latest members of its 2-port switch family with generic bus interface. These solutions allow the ICs to connect to any FPGA or microprocessor with 8-, 16- (-16MQL) or 32-bit (-32MQL) applications including campus backbone link, inter-switch links, managed media converters and industrial controls. The new ICs are available in volume quantities and are offered as fully compliant RoHS devices. For specific pricing, please contact your local Micrel sales representative.

"The KSZ8862-16MQL (OR -32MQL) or KSZ8893FQL are the only switch media converter products on the market today providing true 10BaseFL/100B-SX/100B-FX support," noted Grahame Cooney, Director, Micrel Ethernet group. "This feature enables modern networks to connect to legacy multimode fiber with 10baseFL or 100BaseSX without incurring additional latency and greatly decreasing both complexity and cost."

The ICs feature HP Auto-MDIX on the copper port, which significantly simplifies network operation for media conversion. The addition of four priority queues and IPV6 support makes the KSZ8862-16MQL (OR -32MQL) ideal for triple-play applications, an important consideration for today's carriers. The fiber mode also makes the devices ideal for industrial floor applications where EMI or sparking can be a safety concern. In addition to LinkMD(R), a time domain reflectometry (TDR)-based cable diagnostic function, and HP's auto-MDIX functions, the devices include an LED driver and post amplifier for 10BaseFL and 100BaseSX applications. Port-1 can be used for 10B-FL/100B-SX or 100B-FX fiber applications, while port-2 can be used for 10B-T/100B-TX interface to copper, making the devices ideal for managed media converter applications. The ICs also include support for four priority queues, queue-based rate limiting and IPV6 support for MLD snooping.

About Micrel, Inc.

Micrel Inc., is a leading global manufacturer of IC solutions for the worldwide analog, Ethernet and high bandwidth markets. The Company's products include advanced mixed-signal, analog and power semiconductors; high performance communication, clock management, Ethernet switch and physical layer transceiver ICs. Company customers include leading manufacturers of enterprise, consumer, industrial, mobile, telecommunications, automotive, and computer products. Corporation headquarters and state-of-the-art wafer fabrication facilities are located in San Jose, CA with regional sales and support offices and advanced technology design centers situated throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. In addition, the Company maintains an extensive network of distributors and reps worldwide. Web: http://www.micrel.com/ .