CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa., 12 Nov. 2007. Netronome Systems Inc., a network and security company in Cranberry Township, Pa., is entering into a licensing agreement with Intel Corp. in Santa Clara, Calif., to extend production of the Intel IXP28XX line of network processors.

The agreement calls for Netronome to develop a next-generation line of IXP-compatible, network-flow processors that combine the Intel IXP28XX technology with Netronome's flow management and deep packet inspection architecture.

In addition, Intel authorizes Netronome to promote the IXP28xx network processors for new designs. The network-flow processors are for communications applications ranging from network switching and routing (L2-L3) to content and flow analysis for specialized network and security appliances (L2-L7). These processors will support scalable network performance at 10 gigabits per second, along with packet and flow classification.

As a result of these agreements, Netronome's will offer network-flow processing requirements in three forms for manufacturers of L2-L7 applications: network-flow processors, acceleration cards for integration with appliances based on standard Intel architecture, and turnkey network appliances.

Each supports line-rate network throughput at 10 gigabits per second and beyond, while simultaneously offering industry-leading flow analysis and deep packet inspection.

"The licensing of our technology will allow customers to continue their IXP hardware development and will provide the re-use of their existing tools, codebase and knowledge," says Doug Davis, vice president and general manager of the Intel Embedded and Communications group.

"This is a significant agreement, not only for Netronome, but for the network-processor industry as a whole," says Linley Gwennap, principal analyst of The Linley Group, a technology analysis firm in Mountain View, Calif. "The IXP is the best-selling NPU architecture on the market today, and this agreement ensures a growth path for existing customers as network speeds increase from 1 gigabit per second to 10 gigabits per second and beyond. Furthermore, with its deep understanding of network-flow processing, Netronome is uniquely positioned to expand the network processor market into applications."

For more information contact Netronome online at www.netronome.com.