SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 1 – Cavium, Inc., a leading provider of highly integrated semiconductor products that enable intelligent processing for networking, communications and the digital home, today announced the availability of Project Thunder software development platform kit (SDK). Project Thunder is a family of 64-bit ARMv8 processors targeting next generation energy efficient cloud and data center markets.

Project Thunder provides a scalable family of 64-bit ARMv8 processors incorporated into a highly differentiated SoC architecture optimized for cloud and datacenter applications. The family of SoCs will integrate high-performance compute, networking, security, storage along with targeted workload application acceleration and high-speed industry standard IOs. Project Thunder processors will provide significantly better price, performance and power value proposition over alternative solutions for target applications.

The Project Thunder SDK offers a full Linux operating system, toolchain and example applications that will enable ISVs and programmers to start distributed-computing development on the latest 64-bit ARMv8 architecture. Middleware such as enterprise application and data integration and messaging can be ported. Full applications like web frontends LAMP and Memcached can be supported and scaled across a massive number of virtual machines. Data center and cloud management applications can be ported to setup cloud workloads with multiple application tiers with dynamic provisioning and on-the-fly upgrade ability.

The Project Thunder SDK provides programmers access to an array of cache coherent 64-bit ARMv8 CPU cores, Interrupt Controller, Network connectively, Mass storage interface, Timers, SMMU and console. All device drivers and utilities required for the Project Thunder platform components are included. The SDK also includes a cross development platform enabling programmers to write their own applications or build third party packages for Project Thunder. In addition, the SDK includes a UEFI compliant firmware which is used to boot OS images.

"Cavium is a leading processor vendor with over a decade of experience in successfully delivering high performance, high-core count 64-bit multicore processors that are being used by Tier-1 system providers to build best-in-class solutions," said M. Raghib Hussain , CTO & Corporate Vice President Software, Cavium. "Project Thunder SDK will jump start the transition of cloud and datacenter workloads to next generation, high performance, low power Project Thunder 64-bit ARMv8 SOCs from Cavium."

Availability

The Project Thunder SDK is currently available for selected partners. Application programmers interested in access can apply for access by completing the form at: http://www.cavium.com/thundersdk_access_application.html

About Cavium

Cavium is a leading provider of highly integrated semiconductor products that enable intelligent processing in networking, communications and the digital home. Cavium offers a broad portfolio of integrated, software compatible processors ranging in performance up to 100 Gbps that enable secure, intelligent functionality in enterprise, data-center, broadband/consumer and access & service provider equipment. Cavium's processors are supported by ecosystem partners that provide operating systems, tool support, reference designs and other services. Cavium's principal offices are in San Jose, California with design team locations in California, Massachusetts, India and China.

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Source: Cavium