Software Solutions for Prestera™-MX Switches

The Marvell Prestera™ Software Suite (PSS) is comprised of acomplete set of device driver, Application Programming Interface (API), development tools and other software components. This package supports all Prestera-MX switching products including development boards and reference designs. It also includes Marvell's flagship Galtis™ System Development Tool and other simulation tools.

Our software and API are compatible across the complete family of Prestera devices and comes with a comprehensive user guide that describes all porting requirements. This makes integration of control plane applications, available for other packet processors or network processors, easy and scalable, allowing customers to save development time on one design, but also apply the development effort across multiple designs and product generations.

PSS offers significant innovations in the areas of abstraction of device configuration, port configuration and system design variations seen in configurations such as standalone configurations, chassis configurations, stacking configurations, and single CPU and multi-CPU configurations. PSS provides a linear and consistent view of system ports across all such configurations, providing a level of abstraction that dramatically simplifies application development, portability and scalability.

Prestera-MX Software Suite Features

• Well defined and field-proven API and driver layers for all Prestera chipset features
• OS independent and easily applied to any embedded operating system
• Compatible across all Prestera switch families
• Hardware abstraction makes programming of the Prestera devices simple and facilitates easier interfacing of higher layer applications
• Linear and consistent view of system ports from simple-to-complex switch hardware configurations.
• Offered as layered blocks that enable easy customization to the desired hardware platform
• Modularized into distinct and independent libraries to facilitate easier maintenance, scalability and feature upgrade
• Independent libraries for bridging functions, ARP functions, Mirroring functions, Link Aggregation functions, Quality of Service (QoS) functions, IPv4 functions, MPLS functions, Virtual Cable Tester™ (VCT) functions, and physical layer (PHY) configuration functions
• Each library exposes its own set of API for integrating applications, such as Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN), Spanning Tree, SNMP, OSPF, BGP, MPLS control plane, and diagnostics user interface

Prestera-MX Development Boards and Reference Designs

To accelerate time-to-market, Marvell provides many Prestera-EX-based development boards and reference designs that are offered in different configurations, such as a multi-CPU chassis configuration. Additional software tools provided include Board Support Packages (PSPs), PSS, GalTis, and other software and documentation to enable a rapid application development process. Many well-known third party software companies such as FutureSoft™, NextHop, RADLAN and Wind River™ plan to offer complete layer 2, 3 and 4 management software for Marvell reference designs.

GalTis™ System Development Tool Features

Customers may chose to evaluate the functionality and resource requirements of a Prestera-MX-based system prior to embarking on real software development. The GalTis System Development Tool is a revolutionary product that enables customers to explore all aspects of the Prestera-MX device without writing any code.

GalTis works in conjunction with the Marvell PSS to provide Windows-based graphical user interface that can be used to exercise PSS APIs supported by the device. This enables the creation of different sizes of Media Access Controller (MAC) or VLAN tables, or the configuration of “next hop” entries for routing and simulation in test environments. Resource requirements such as memory and flash sizes can be assessed as well. The tool enables developers to write and execute scripts that simulate run-time behavior.

GalTis can also be used to effectively trouble shoot problems at customer sites.