List of defunct network processor companies explained

During the dot-com/internet bubble of the late 1990s and early 2000, the proliferation of many dot-com start-up companies created a secondary bubble in the telecommunications/computer networking infrastructure and telecommunications service provider markets. Venture capital and high tech companies rushed to build next generation infrastructure equipment for the expected explosion of internet traffic. As part of that investment fever, network processors were seen as a method of dealing with the desire for more network services and the ever-increasing data-rates of communication networks.

It has been estimated that dozens of start-up companies were created in the race to build the processors that would be a component of the next generation telecommunications equipment. Once the internet investment bubble burst, the telecom network upgrade cycle was deferred for years (perhaps for a decade). As a result, the majority of these new companies went bankrupt.

As of 2007, the only companies that are shipping network processors in sizeable volumes are Cisco Systems, Marvell, Freescale, Cavium Networks and AMCC.

OC-768/40Gb routing

• ClearSpeed left network processor market, reverted to supercomputing applications
• Propulsion Networks defunct
• BOPS left network processor market, reverted to DSP applications

OC-192/10Gb routing

• Terago defunct
• Clearwater Networks originally named Xstream Logic, defunct
• Silicon Access defunct
• Solidum Systems acquired by Integrated Device Technology
• Lexra defunct
• Fast-Chip defunct
• Cognigine Corp. defunct
• Internet Machines morphed into IMC Semiconductors, a PCI-Express chip vendor
• Acorn Networks defunct
• XaQti acquired by Vitesse Semiconductor, product line discontinued

OC-48/2.5Gb routing

• IP Semiconductors defunct
• Entridia defunct
• Stargate Solutions defunct

Gigabit Ethernet routing

• Sibyte acquired by Broadcom, product line discontinued
• PMC-Sierra product line discontinued

OC-12 routing

• C-port acquired by Motorola (now Freescale), product line discontinued
• IBM PowerNP product line discontinued
• Sitera acquired by Vitesse, product line discontinued

Access products

• Netargy defunct
• Ishoni Networks defunct
• HyWire defunct

VOIP products

• Silicon Spice acquired by Broadcom, product line discontinued
• Malleable Technologies acquired by PMC-Sierra, product line discontinued

Traffic managers

• Extreme Packet Devices acquired by PMC-Sierra, product line discontinued
• Azanda Network Devices acquired by Cortina, product line being sold as CS53xx family
• Teradiant defunct
• Orologic acquired by Vitesse, product line discontinued
• Maker Communications acquired by Conexant, product line discontinued

Packet classifiers

• SwitchOn acquired by PMC-Sierra, product line discontinued
• FastChip defunct

Switch fabrics

• Abrizio acquired by PMC-Sierra, product line discontinued
• Stargen left networking market for computer server market

Security products

• Chrysalis-ITS defunct