The New OCTEON Plus CN52XX MIPS64 Dual- and Quad-Core Processors Dramatically Improve Performance, Power and Price Over Existing Solutions

Enterprises and Access Providers are deploying an array of applications using data, voice and video over wired and wireless networks. These business applications and personalized content need to be delivered to users anytime, anywhere, on any platform with QoS, security and intelligence. These new applications drive the need for processing and integration requirements for embedded networking processors to be orders of magnitude higher.

The new OCTEON Plus CN52XX network processor family integrates up to 4x 64-bit cnMIPS cores operating at up to 900MHz with integrated intelligent hardware acceleration for packet processing, Quality of Service, TCP and security. The CN52XX network processor family is being used in next generation networking systems targeted for entry to mid-level enterprise and access markets. These next generation systems are integrating multiple features including routing, switching with Layer 2 to Layer 7 intelligence, Quality of Service, access control, WAN gateway functions, firewall, intrusion protection and VPN. The CN52XX can process over 10Gbps of IP forwarding and NAT for networking applications and 5Gbps of IPsec, SSL security protocols.

The new OCTEON Plus CN52XX storage services processor integrates up to 7000 MIPS with integrated advanced hardware acceleration for storage IOPS, TCP, iSCSI, RAID 6, de-duplication and security. The CN52XX storage services processor provides an ideal solution for next generation entry and mid-level storage systems such as iSCSI targets, Fiber-Channel to iSCSI bridges, Fiber Channel over Ethernet adaptors, Disk encryption controllers, Disk Arrays, RAID 6 arrays and de-duplication enabled systems. The CN52XX storage services process can process over 500MB/s of IEEE 1619 for data-at-rest security and 100K iSCSI IOPS-to-disk.

"We see the SME networking market demanding an advanced solution that incorporates high-end routing, quality of service and security features typically found in enterprise class equipment," said Linley Gwennapp, Principal Analyst at The Linley Group. "The OCTEON CN52XX with up to 7000 MIPS, integrated GE and 10GE interfaces and hardware acceleration provides an excellent solution that enables these advanced features."

OCTEON CN52XX Multicore MIPS64 Processor

The new OCTEON CN52XX Network Processor and Storage Services Processor families consist of six different software- and pin-compatible parts with 2 to 4 cnMIPS-plus cores, running at clock speeds from 500MHz up to 900 MHz. All CN52XX processors integrate 512KB of L2 cache, a 72bit DDR2-800 memory controller, up to 4x Gigabit interfaces (SGMII) or one 10 Gigabit interface (XAUI), two MII management interfaces, 2x USB 2.0 interfaces and two PCI-Express controllers with up to 4-lanes. Additionally the CN52XX incorporates existing and proven OCTEON processor family hardware acceleration for packet processing, Quality of Service, TCP, iSCSI and security applications for IPsec, SSL and IEEE 1619 for data-at-rest encryption. The OCTEON CN52XX provides three to five times the performance in storage and networking applications when compared to alternative solutions with the same price and power ranges.

The CN52XX networking processor combined with the other OCTEON Plus processor families CN56XX, CN54XX and CN50XX provide a comprehensive, scalable and software compatible processor solution for networking applications targeting broadband, enterprise, data center and service provider networks. The OCTEON family consists of over 30 different processors that address the Networking, Wireless and Storage. Networking OEMs can choose from OCTEON processors with one to sixteen MIPS64 cores with cost points starting under $20 and top performance reaching over 20Gbps.

The CN52XX is supported by Cavium's feature-rich software development kit with SMP Linux 2.6, GNU Toolchain, debugger tools, co-processor acceleration APIs, reference software and a comprehensive ecosystem for a range of wired and wireless networking, storage and service provider applications. For more information about OCTEON processors please visit: http://www.caviumnetworks.com/OCTEON_MIPS64.html.

Pricing and Availability

Pricing for the OCTEON CN52XX family starts at $49 in 10K quantities. General samples of OCTEON CN52XX family processors and evaluation boards will be available in Q2 2008.

About Cavium Networks

Cavium Networks is a leading provider of highly integrated semiconductor products that enable intelligent processing in networking, communications, storage and security applications. Cavium Networks offers a broad portfolio of integrated, software compatible processors ranging in performance from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps that enable secure, intelligent functionality in enterprise, data-center, broadband/consumer and access & service provider equipment. Cavium Networks processors are supported by ecosystem partners that provide operating systems, tool support, reference designs and other services. Cavium Networks principal offices are in Mountain View, CA with design team locations in California, Massachusetts and India. For more information, please visit: http://www.caviumnetworks.com.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual future events or results. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that if they do not fully materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties that could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to, the performance of OCTEON Plus CN52XX, the availability of OCTEON(TM) CN52XX processors and evaluation boards in the second quarter of 2008, as well as the final functionality, performance and power consumption, rates of customer adoption and design-ins and other risks and uncertainties described more fully in our documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. More information about these and other risks that may impact Cavium's business are set forth in our Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC, including the "Risk Factors" section in our final Prospectus dated May 1, 2007 and our Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2007. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof and qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and we assume no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

Cavium Networks Contact:
Angel Atondo
Marketing Manager
Tel: (650) 623-7033

SOURCE: Cavium Networks, Inc.