Triangle -- LVL7 Systems, Inc., the leading provider of production-ready networking software, has introduced the industry's first third-party Ethernet switching software for original equipment manufacturers interested in offering chassis-based products for small-to-mid-sized enterprise operations and applications. The company's latest portfolio extension, FASTPATH(R) 6000 software, provides an immediate, viable alternative for OEMs looking to develop cost-effective products with the enhanced reliability and flexibility found in modular chassis systems.

LVL7's new chassis software leverages the company's distributed architecture and leadership experience in developing third-party software for enterprise-caliber stackable systems - a prior industry first. With FASTPATH 6000 software, OEMs can extend their product families to include systems suitable for enterprise wiring closets, aggregation applications, and similar business networking deployments.

In its FASTPATH 6000 software, LVL7 developed numerous operational capabilities that match the more rigorous physical and functional requirements of chassis configurations. For example, FASTPATH 6000 supports these high-performance attributes:
redundant control and management planes, as well as the option for redundant data planes;
management of physical and environmental elements for power, alarms and sensors;
hot-insert detection and management of cards and modules;
selectable, redundant software loads, including different software in different chassis modules; and,improved reliability via stand-by operation and faster switchover of software modules after fault detection.

Initial versions of FASTPATH 6000 software are designed for chassis systems based on Broadcom(R) StrataXGS(R) III switching silicon. LVL7 already has integrated its software with that silicon to jumpstart the development process and give OEMs a production-ready time-to-market advantage.

"The combination of Broadcom's market-leading StrataXGS III switch technology and LVL7's FASTPATH networking software is now enabling a new class of products," said Martin Lund, Vice President and General Manager of Broadcom's Network Switching Business Unit. "The chassis software from LVL7 harnesses the capabilities of our switching silicon and drives market-leading functionality while improving time-to-market."

FASTPATH 6000 software for chassis-based systems is available immediately, and LVL7 already has secured OEM customer orders for the new software offering."This is a milestone for LVL7 and the OEM community," said Dave King, LVL7's vice president of marketing and strategy. "The latest addition to our FASTPATH software portfolio gives manufacturers the flexibility to create an entire family of Ethernet products - fixed, stackable, or chassis-based - to match marketplace requirements and customer needs. Even OEMs that historically relied on internal software development teams now have more choice in managing the cost of getting high quality, feature-rich networking products to market quickly."

LVL7 will demonstrate the latest FASTPATH software offerings combined with Broadcom silicon - for chassis, WLAN, IPv6, and other applications - during Interop Las Vegas, May 2-4, in special demonstration suites at the Mandalay Bay Hotel.

About LVL7
LVL7 Systems, Inc. creates production-ready networking software that enables communication system manufacturers to reduce development costs and deliver IP/Ethernet products to market faster. Integrated with the industry's leading silicon and embedded operating systems, the company's FASTPATH(R) software portfolio spans the small-medium business, enterprise, wireless LAN, and telecom access marketplaces. LVL7 is a privately held company located near Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. For more information, visit www.LVL7.com.LVL7, the LVL7 logo, and FASTPATH(R) are trademarks of LVL7 Systems, Inc.Broadcom(R) and StrataXGS(R) are trademarks of Broadcom Corporation.