Cisco Chooses Altera for Key Business-Class DSL Product
Cisco Systems became one of the first adopters of Altera APEX technology during the fall of 1999 when they chose the 200K-gate APEX EP20K200E programmable logic device (PLD) to develop their asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) WAN interface card (WIC). The ADSL WIC fulfills a key role in Cisco's overall product offering by providing ADSL access to a wide range of their router customers. Marc Bresniker, DSL Product Marketing Manager for Cisco's Remote Interworking Business Unit, explains, "The ADSL WIC is an integral part of our DSL solutions for small- and medium-size businesses, small branch offices, and enterprise branch offices. The Cisco 1700, 2600, and 3600 with the ADSL WIC provide the perfect solution for businesses that require business-class DSL access with support for security, virtual private network (VPN), voice, and video on a flexible, modular platform."
 The complexity of the ADSL WIC design demanded that the Cisco design team evaluate the most advanced device offerings from the leading programmable logic vendors. Despite the fact that they had never used APEX devices before, the team felt that the Altera offering surpassed the other options, including embedded processors and other programmable logic devices. "The APEX solution provided a comprehensive overall package, including technical merit, great value, and complete support," states Jim Grishaw, Hardware Design Engineer for Cisco's Remote Internetworking Business Unit. "In terms of our design, the size and granularity of the APEX embedded system blocks (ESBs) and the low-profile FineLine ball-grid array (BGA) packaging was a good fit for our needs."
 Even though APEX devices met all of their initial requirements, adopting a new device for a project as important as the ADSL WIC was a considerable risk, especially from the point of view of Beth Topolovsky, the Engineering Manager who oversaw the project. Topolovsky characterizes the ADSL design as "one of the most complex designs that Cisco has ever placed on a WAN interface card." She states, "We required large-scale integration and low power consumption, both of which the APEX solution delivered. Altera's high level of support for our development helped us master the tools and mitigate risks, leading to a very successful release."
For more information on Cisco's use of Altera solutions for DSL products, read this article from the Integrated Communications Design web site, "Designing DSL for the Enterprise".
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