April 10, 2014, Seoul, Korea – As networks worldwide become increasingly virtualized, software-based approaches to network infrastructure, such as Software Defined Networking (SDN), open standard protocols like OpenFlow™, and others, have emerged. Along with this, the number of network endpoints is increasing significantly as the volume of data that needs to be protected, analyzed, and transmitted globally grows due to the initial definition of the Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G technologies.

To address these rapidly changing dynamics, Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE: FSL), a global leader in embedded communications processors, announced the QorIQ LS2085A and LS2045A SoCs based on the Layerscape architecture. In addition, Freescale is continuously advancing its Power Architecture technology-based products by introducing three additional devices: the QorIQ T1023, T1024, and T4080 SoCs.

“When we first announced the next-generation QorIQ platform built on the Layerscape architecture two years ago, we already recognized the paradigm shift toward the SDN/NFV era,” said Tom Deitrich, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Freescale’s Digital Networking Group. “With the launch of the QorIQ LS2, we are fulfilling our promise to provide cutting-edge SoC technology that significantly improves network performance while enhancing usability for our customers.”

The QorIQ LS2 architecture includes processing areas based on the industry's best 64-bit ARM Cortex®-A57 core. A series of debug, I/O, and acceleration technologies are closely coupled with this area, including a groundbreaking packet processing engine that abstracts hardware complexity, enabling customers to focus resources on application-level innovation. This flexible data plane engine is C-programmable, significantly shortening development cycles and opening the architecture to a large embedded developer community. Furthermore, the QorIQ LS2 packet processor is supported by various turnkey toolkits, a C-based common networking protocol library, and features that provide a connection between flexibility and performance. Additionally, an integrated L2 switch, designed to be included in the architecture and work closely with the data path engine, enables interconnects and peripherals to provide a complete system-on-chip solution for reducing power, specifications, cost, and component count. Overall multicore SoC programming is significantly simplified by abstracting tasks such as setup, initialization, and analysis, and users can call resources and accelerators using standard APIs and Linux® objects.

"Freescale's new QorIQ T-series and LS2-series processors demonstrate the company's dual strategy of providing Power Architecture and ARM-based chips based on an innovative SoC architecture featuring a C-programmable execution-complete packet engine designed for high performance as well as ease of use," said Linley Gwennap, Senior Analyst at The Linley Group. "Particularly noteworthy is the QorIQ LS2085A, which features eight 64-bit Cortex-57 cores and significantly enhances the performance of embedded processors optimized for communications."

Optimized for networking applications, the new QorIQ LS2085A and LS2045A processors are based on the Layerscape architecture and are equipped with eight and four 64-bit ARM Cortex-A57 cores, respectively, running at up to 2 GHz. They also feature a DDR4 memory controller, eight 10 Gb interfaces, and eight 1 Gb interfaces with L2 switching capabilities. The products' advanced data path engine utilizes acceleration technology to handle complex 40 Gb/s packet processing. The QorIQ LS2 family is specifically designed for SDN/OpenFlow switching, NFV solutions, wireless access, enterprise routing, and data center processing applications. The new product family sets a new standard for the industry with plans to announce a complete ARMv8-A-based portfolio of multicore processors in the second half of 2014.

Demonstrating its commitment to expanding software-compatible upgrade paths across its extensive Power Architecture design portfolio, Freescale today announced three 28-nm, 64-bit QorIQ family models featuring the QorIQ T1023, T1024, and T4080 64-bit processors. With the new QorIQ LS2 family, Freescale customers can now choose from a diverse range of 64-bit Power Architecture or ARM-based devices offering power and performance options.

The new QorIQ T1023 and T1024 processors combine complete application software scalability with an excellent offload performance upgrade path for the widely used QorIQ P1 family and PowerQUICC processors. The T1023 device targets 802.11ac smart edge WLAN access points and branch routers, while the T1024 SoC provides cost-effective upgrades for printing and imaging, existing control applications, and line cards. These new processors integrate high-performance Power Architecture e5500 processor cores, an advanced cache architecture running up to 1.4GHz, an application-centric offload engine, and a future-proof low-power memory subsystem.

The QorIQ T4080 processor further expands the range of the QorIQ T4 product family. Pin compatibility with the T4160 and T4240 processors allows customers to design multiple products on a single PCB. The QorIQ T4080 is suitable for application delivery controllers and WAN optimization controllers due to its highly efficient accelerator for deep packet inspection (DPI), bulk encryption, and compression. The T4080 integrates a high-performance AltiVec engine and uses four dual-threaded Power Architecture-based e6500 cores running up to 1.67GHz.

"The networking industry is focusing on elevating scalability and efficiency to new levels to advance network infrastructure," said Charlene Marini, Senior Vice President of Marketing for ARM Embedded Business Unit. "By combining the high-performance 64-bit ARM Cortex-A57 processor with the unique architecture of the Freescale QorIQ LS2 family, we address these demands and provide opportunities for SDN, NFV, and virtual networks to undergo innovative transformation."

George Grey, CEO of Linaro, said, “Freescale is leading the adoption of ARMv8 64-bit processors in the networking market by launching new multicore products based on the Layerscape architecture,” adding, “The new QorIQ products based on the Layerscape platform represent a groundbreaking advancement in the global networking field, and the Linaro Networking Group will continue to work with Freescale to shorten development cycles and simplify complex network programming.”

"Scot Morrison, General Manager of Embedded Runtime Solutions at Mentor Graphics' Embedded Software Business Unit, said, 'The new QorIQ LS2 family, featuring Layerscape technology and ARM cores, delivers optimized power and performance in networking infrastructure, and Mentor is committed to supporting LS2 family devices in this market.' He added, 'As Freescale's preferred embedded partner for Linux-based support, our support enables embedded developers to efficiently develop complex systems by leveraging market-leading Mentor Embedded Linux, Sourcery™ CodeBench development tools, and world-class professional services.'"