WinPath Network Processors
Overview
Microsemi's WinPath network processors family is purposely designed and optimized for access networks and applications. Its programmable data plane and customizable networking software allow seamless migration towards SDN.WinPath Data Plane
- Dedicated NPU (WinGines) as the basis for programmable data path, packet processing and forwarding andSDN/OpenFlow pipeline
- Balanced & symmetric multiprocessor and multithreading architecture
- Strategically placed hardware accelerators including IPSec
- Internal SRAM and external DDR3 SDRAM
WinPath Control Plane
- General purpose MIPS cores
- L1 and L2 cache
WinPath Data Plane Interfaces
- Packet (FE/GE/10GE, POS-PHY, SPI3), ATM, TDM

Selection Table
WinPath family | WinPath3-SPO | WinPath3 SuperLite | WinPath3 | WinPath4 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Switching | 2Gbps | 4Gbps | 10Gbps | 40Gbps |
3Mpps | 6Mpps | 15Mpps | 60Mpps | |
GE ports | 6 S/R/GMII | 6 S/R/GMII | 16 S/R/GMII | 24 Q/SGMII |
2.5G ports | 3 SGMII | 3 SGMII | 6 SGMII | 12 SGMII |
10GE ports | - | - | 2 XAUI | 4 XAUI |
T1/E1 ports | 8 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
MIPS core | 600MHz x1 | 650MHz x1 | 700MHz x2 | 825MHz x2 |
Memory | 0.75MB + 1x DDR3 | 0.75MB + 2x DDR3 | 2.5MB + 3x DDR3 | 8.5MB + 7x DDR3 |
STM-1/STM-4 | - | - | Yes (with UFE412) | - |
Encryption engine | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Package | 19x19 mm² | 27x27 mm² | 31x31 mm² | 40x40 mm² |
Typ. core power | <3W | <4W | <10W | <16W |
Applications | GE access | Dual-GE access | 10GE access | 10GE access/aggr. |
WP vs Switch
WinPath NPU |
Carrier Ethernet Switch |
![]() is the right solution when... |
![]() is the right solution when... |
1.Need external packet buffer for burst absorption
2.Need OpenFlow/SDN support
3.Layer-3 routing-centric application (MPLS VPNs, etc)
4.Need G.999.1 interface
5.Flexibility is #1 priority
|
1.Ethernet / IP / MPLS switching-centric application, need optimal power and performance
2.Need integrated PHY (1G Cu, 10G fiber)
3.Need integrated single lane 10G interface (XFI/SFI) or Serdes
4.Power is #1 priority
|
Carrier Ethernet Switch/NPU Portfolio
Part # |
Name |
I/O |
1G* |
2.5G* |
10G* |
Integrated PHYs |
Interfaces |
SyncE & 1588 |
Int |
L3 Route |
||||||
10G SFP+ |
1000BT |
SG |
RG |
QSG |
XAUI |
SFI/ |
PCIe |
|||||||||
Jaguar-2™ |
80 Gbps |
52 |
24 |
4 |
4 |
■ |
■ |
■ |
■ |
■ |
■ |
32 Mbits |
■ |
|||
LynX-2™ |
52 Gbps |
26 |
16 |
4 |
4 |
■ |
■ |
■ |
■ |
■ |
■ |
32 Mbits |
■ |
|||
Jaguar-1™ |
68 Gbps |
31 |
10 |
4 |
■ |
■ |
■ |
32 Mbits |
■ |
|||||||
LynX-1™ |
44 Gbps |
20 |
10 |
4 |
■ |
■ |
■ |
32 Mbits |
■ |
|||||||
Serval-2™ |
32 Gbps |
14 |
12 |
2 |
2 |
■ |
■ |
■ |
■ |
■ |
■ |
16 Mbits |
■ |
|||
Caracal-2™ |
29 Gbps |
26 |
2 |
|
12 |
■ |
■ |
■ |
4 Mbits |
|||||||
Caracal-1™ |
13 Gbps |
11 |
2 |
|
8 |
■ |
■ |
4 Mbits |
||||||||
Serval-1™ |
13 Gbps |
11 |
2 |
|
■ |
■ |
■ |
8 Mbits |
||||||||
Serval2-Lite™ |
34 Gbps |
8 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
■ |
■ |
■ |
■ |
8 Mbits |
■ |
||||
VSC7423 |
Caracal-Lite™ |
9 Gbps |
7 |
2 |
|
5 |
■ |
■ |
4 Mbits |
|||||||
Serval-Lite™ |
9 Gbps |
6 |
2 |
|
■ |
■ |
■ |
8 Mbits |
||||||||
WP3-SPO |
2 Gbps |
6 |
3 |
■ |
■ |
■ |
■ |
0.75 MB + 1x DDR3 |
■ |
|||||||
WinPath3 SuperLite™ |
4 Gbps |
6 |
3 |
■ |
■ |
■ |
■ |
0.75 MB + 2x DDR3 |
■ |
|||||||
WinPath3™ |
10 Gbps |
16 |
6 |
2 |
■ |
■ |
■ |
■ |
■ |
2.5 MB + 3x DDR3 |
■ |
|||||
WinPath4™ |
40 Gbps |
24 |
12 |
4 |
■ |
■ 4 |
■ |
■ |
■ |
■ |
8.5 MB + 7x DDR3 |
■ |
NOTES: * = (1) These are MAX ports. Excluding the 1G NPI port (VSC742X NPI port included),
(2) MAX 1G / 2.5G / 10G are not supported at the same time and shall not surpass the max available I/O bandwidth
(3) 1G integrated ports support dual media Copper or Fiber applications
R = RXAUI and XAUI
Ecosystem
Featured Partner

Asidua, based in the UK, is Microsemi's longest standing software and control plane solutions partner for WinPath based systems. The company has been successfully delivering WinPath based solutions to our customers since the first WinPath device was created more than ten years ago. The organisation has been with us on the WinPath journey through WinPath2, WinPath3 and recently has been the first to adopt WinPath4 as the latest generation platform underpinning the Asidua WanStaX software portfolio. Asidua's WanStaX portfolio comes pre-integrated with WinPath and uniquely makes full use of WinPath hardware accelerated features.
With WanStaX, Asidua can provide highly cost effective working access network solutions based on WinPath with a very short development, integration and test cycle. WanStaX allows our customers to create access network systems supporting DSL, Carrier Ethernet, ATM, TDM, MPLS and PWE3 based services with close to zero software effort. The portfolio includes all the functionality required by MEF standard Network Interface Devices out of the box, including timing and synchronisation functions compliant to IEEE 1588v2 and SyncE. Many of the capabilities of WanStaX are readily available as functional demonstration builds which can be run on Microsemi's WDS development platforms for WinPath. In conjunction with Asidua's consultancy and professional services offering, WanStaX is a sure route to successful product delivery for WinPath based devices.
In addition, Microsemi and Asidua work closely on developing future proofed solutions for our customers; Asidua supports Microsemi's technical roadmap in facilitating a migration path to SDN via OpenFlow. Please see the jointly authored white paper on this topic here, which describes how WinPath allows carrier applications to fully exploit its fully programmable data plane, with Asidua's WanStaX providing the software control and integration facilities to make this vision a reality. For further information see www.asidua.com/wanstax and Asidua WanStaX OpenFlow Demo.
- In partnership with Microsemi, IP Infusion offers a pre-integrated ZebOS® software platform on WinPath3 reference designs that provides an accelerated time-to-market software solution with reduced development risks and improved return-on-investment. IP Infusion is a leading provider of network software for enhanced Ethernet and IP services. OEMs rely on IP Infusion's ZebOS® software platform and global professional services to bring products to market faster, and to differentiate them from competitors with less cost. Products built on IP Infusion technology are deployed in networks with five-9s reliability across five continents, as well as a growing number of enterprises, to improve network performance, decrease network infrastructure costs, and grow revenue. For further information, please see http://ipinfusion.com/products/hardware-integration-software/pmc-s-winpath3