The News: Marvell announced the Brightlane Q62xx family of central Automotive Ethernet switches, aimed at a new, emerging category of devices for enabling computing architectures to improve safety and deliver software-defined services for the next generation of vehicles. Read the full press release from Marvell here.
Marvell Accelerates Automotive Zonal Architectural Cause with Brightlane Q622x Switch Debut
Analyst Take: Marvell introduces its Brightlane Q6223 switch designed to deliver 90 Gbps of bandwidth, nearly a twofold increase in capacity of currently available automotive switches. Marvell is targeting the automotive manufacturers’ tectonic shift from architectures built around domain networking implementations, where switches manage devices linked to specific applications such as infotainment or safety, and point-to-point connections to zonal networking architectures developed around more scalable and universally proven Ethernet.
I anticipate that the transition to zonal networking architectures can bolster the onboard computing capabilities of vehicles by improving safety systems, augmenting infotainment, boosting fuel efficiency, and smoothly integrating software-defined services for a better driving and passenger experience. To advance the transition toward the zonal approach, Marvell is playing an integral role in rethinking the technology utilized to develop and build vehicle network platforms.
Marvell’s new Brightlane Q6223 switch uses a non-blocking 12-port design that can be configured from among eight integrated 10G SerDes ports, four integrated 2.5G SerDes ports, and two integrated 1000Base-T1 PHYs available. The Brightlane Q6222 contains nine ports for 60 Gbps with five integrated 10G SerDes ports, four integrated 2.5G SerDes ports, and two integrated 1000Base-T1 PHYs available for selection. Both the 90 Gbps and 60 Gbps Brightlane Q622x switches are single-chip devices to reduce cost, power, and latency.
In my assessment, Marvell’s support of advanced security features across the new switch family is a key differentiator, especially against rival solutions that lack the features. For instance, the Brightlane Q622x family incorporates IEEE 802.1AE-2018-compliant Media Access Control (MACsec) link security on every port, up to 10G, for encrypting data travelling between automotive components to prevent man-in-the-middle and other attacks.
Of top importance, Marvell’s Ternary Content Addressable Memory (TCAM) implementation for deep packet inspection (DPI) provides for wire-speed packet declassification to ensure packet validity and the ability to filter and classify more than 4,000 IPv4/IPv6 flows for heightened intrusion detection. Plus, the Q622x family uses a hardware security module (HSM) for encryption, MACsec key management, and trusted boot functionality to further protect the in-vehicle network.
Marvell needed to introduce the Q622X family to broaden the addressable market of its portfolio of Automotive Ethernet switches, PHYs, and camera bridges, particularly since the number of Automotive Ethernet ports shipped annually is growing at nearly 40% annually, with shipments expected to exceed 1 billion ports by 2025 (according to Marvell estimates).
I see Marvell’s Brightlane Q622x family aligning fully with the massive ramp in the amount of software and silicon in automobiles. Consumers are demanding more digital services and capabilities including enhanced GPS, better infotainment experiences, and advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS). Also, I expect that car makers will play an increasing role in silicon design, becoming more involved in the development and design of some elements of the chips themselves, migrating away from relying on their silicon suppliers to select the silicon or the software.
Marvell Brightlane Q622x Family Debut: The Future is Zonal
Marvell’s Brigthlane Q622x family delivers the full advantages of zonal networking technology including performance where Ethernet boosts capacity and speed by assuring Gigabit levels of performance – a clear edge over domain-bound networking that is limited to Megabit ranges. Through Ethernet-based zonal architecture, a lot less cabling is needed, which can boost gas mileage and EV range.
In zonal architectures, all the devices can connect to each other through a central router. For instance, images captured by the rear of front camera can go to a driver warning dashboard and the ADAS system. Through the consolidation of small processors and distributed storage, auto makers can take advantage of programmable centralized processors and large storage systems. As such, they can provide more computing power to run more intricate applications through the foundation of more powerful networking.
Key Takeaways: Marvell Brightlane Q622x Switch Family Debut
Overall, I believe Marvell is advancing Automotive Ethernet innovation to fulfill the evolving demands of the software-defined vehicle era. Through the new Brightlane Q622x switch family, Marvell is enabling automakers to expedite their adoption of the central Automotive Ethernet technologies key to implementing zonal architectures which reduce bill of materials space and cost in full accord with bandwidth breakthroughs and comprehensive security assurances.
Disclosure: The Futurum Group is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.
Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of The Futurum Group as a whole.
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