VLSI Technology Inc, San Jose says it has the first silicon building-block implementation of a dual-ported version of IBM Corp’s Serial Storage Architecture interface function. The company is calling it the VCF94200 and says the Functional System Block cell is a highly integrated, value-added block that can be embedded into either an ASIC or into an application-specific standard product, resulting in storage interconnection subsystems with reduced part count, lower power dissipation and lower cost. VSLI says applications for the VCF94200 include RAID disk array controllers and input-output controllers for connecting storage devices, in particular hard disks, to mainframe computers, workstations, servers and personal computers. VLSI is backing Serial Storage Architecture because it believes the standard proposed by IBM simplifies cabling and enables data to be transferred much faster than the parallel interfaces used for attaching peripherals to computer systems. VLSI says the advantages are fault tolerance and hot plugging as well as performance advantages in computer storage applications, including compact cables and connectors, which facilitate the incorporation of several drives in a single configuration. The architecture also offers an easy migration path for systems currently operating with the SCS interface, requiring only minimal rewriting of supporting code. In addition, a flexible addressing scheme supports string, loop or switched connections. The VCF94200 cell is complies with ‘Serial Storage Architecture SSA-PH Specification’, with each port providing 20Mbps full-duplex operation. VLSI says it has design files for the VCF94200 and prototype chips incorporating the VCF94200 can be started now, with full production scheduled to begin next quarter.
