APEX Integrated CAM Address Data CAM APEX Integrated Content Addressable Memory (CAM) Match Flag Greatly Accelerates Applications Requiring List and Data Searches Altera APEX Devices: The Only Programmable Logic Devices with CAM APEX CAM Applications CAM Accelerates Fast Searches Ethernet address look-up Content-addressable memory (CAM), a memory technology developed from random access memory (RAM), accelerates applications requiring fast searches of databases, lists, and patterns. CAM simultaneously compares input data against an entire list of pre-stored entries in a single clock cycle, which provides an extremely significant reduction in search time when compared to RAM. Internet protocol filtering Data compression Pattern recognition Cache tags Fast look-up for routing tables High-bandwidth packet searches for data switches, firewalls, bridges, and routers APEX CAM Architecture 32-word x 32-bit CAM in each ESB Programmable width and depth expansion Faster access time (4 ns) than discrete CAM ESBs can be cascaded for wider and deeper CAMs APEX Devices: The Only PLDs with CAM Altera's APEXTM devices, the only programmable logic devices (PLDs) to offer integrated CAM, have up to one million gates (2.67 million system gates) and allow for complete System-on-a-ProgrammableChipTM integration. Designers can use the APEX CAM to simplify applications that require the searching of lists and tables of data. The APEX integrated CAM provides significant system performance enhancements and allows for more efficient resource utilization in the system design. CAM Available in Each APEX Embedded System Block The embedded system block (ESB) is at the heart of the Altera(R) APEX architecture. One APEX ESB can be configured to be a 32-word x 32-bit CAM, and multiple ESBs can be cascaded together to implement wider and deeper CAMs. The APEX CAM architecture provides great flexibility because the designer can create a wide range of CAM depths or widths. APEX Device Densities and ESB Resources EP20K100E EP20K160E EP20K200E EP20K300E Maximum System Gates 263K 404K 526K 728K EP20K400E EP20K600E EP20K1000E 1,052K 1,537K 2,670K 53K - 106K 82K - 163K 106K -211K 147K - 293K 213K - 423K 311K - 618K 541K - 1,073K Typical Gates 4,160 6,400 8,320 11,520 16,640 24,320 42,240 Logic Elements 26 40 52 72 104 152 264 ESBs 26,624 40,960 53,248 73,728 106,496 155,648 270,336 Maximum CAM Bits APEX Provides Flexible CAM Configurations to Meet Market Demands CAM Depth Discrete CAM (Fixed Sizes) APEX 20KE CAM Coverage Flexible configuration up to 264 Kbits 4,096 x 64 1,024 x 128 8,192 x 80 256 x 64 512 x 64 2,048 x 64 16,384 x 64 CAM Width Small CAM Applications * * * * * Switch address mapping Packet header identification Pattern recognition IP filter Cache tag Altera Offices Corporate Headquarters Altera Corporation 101 Innovation Drive San Jose, CA 95134 Telephone: (408) 544 7000 http://www.altera.com Altera European Headquarters Altera U.K. Limited Holmers Farm Way High Wycombe Buckinghamshire HP12 4XF United Kingdom Telephone: (44) 1 494 602 000 Altera Japan, Limited Shinjuku Mitsui Building 36F 1-1, Nishi-Shinjuku, 2 Chome Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-0436 Japan Telephone: (81) 3 3340 9480 http://www.altera.com/japan Altera International, Limited Suite 908-920, Tower 1 Metroplaza 223 Hing Fong Road Kwai Fong, New Territories Hong Kong Telephone: (852) 2487 2030 Medium CAM Applications * * * * Large CAM Applications MAC address look-up in two-layer bridges and switches Address translation or protocol conversion in gateways Layer 3 longest match address look-up for Ipv4, DECNET, and AppleTalk VPI/VCI translation in ATM switches CAM Applications * ARP cache in network server * Layer 2/4 flow recognition for fair bandwidth sharing * Layer 3 address caching of switch of IPv6 APEX Integrated CAM Provides Superior Performance The superior performance Discrete CAM APEX CAM advantages of CAM have Access Time 20 ns 4 ns attracted much attention from System Performance Multi-chip solution Single-chip solution 28.2 ns 4.9 ns the communications industry. The CAM architecture is ideally flexibility, APEX devices provide a true suited for high-level pattern matching and programmable solution to meet the market data searching operations. Because APEX demand for CAM. devices provide the superior performance of a single-chip solution as well as greatly Contact Altera Today! enhanced size and configuration flexibility, the APEX CAM provides significant advantages over discrete CAMs. Advantages of APEX Integrated CAM To determine which APEX device will work best for you, contact your local Altera sales representative or visit the Altera web site at http://www.altera.com/apex. By eliminating on-/off-chip and PCB board delays, the APEX integrated CAM provides greatly enhanced system performance over discrete CAM. The advanced APEX process technology also enables a 4x to 5x faster CAM access time than discrete CAMs. With the programmable CAM configuration Copyright (c) 1999 Altera Corporation. Altera, APEX, APEX 20K, APEX 20KE, System-on-a-Programmable-Chip, The Altera Advantage, and specific device designations are trademarks and/or service marks of Altera Corporation in the United States of America and other countries. Other brands or products are trademarks of their respective holders. The specifications herein are subject to change without notice. All rights reserved. M-SS-APEXCAM-01