Marvell 88E6191XA0-BXB2C000 Ethernet Switch: Datasheet and Technical Overview

The Marvell 88E6191XA0-BXB2C000 represents a highly integrated, high-performance Ethernet switch solution designed to meet the demanding requirements of modern enterprise, industrial, and carrier-grade networking equipment. As part of Marvell's prestigious Prestera® family, this switch chip delivers a robust combination of advanced features, low power consumption, and flexible configuration options, making it an ideal core for next-generation switches, routers, and network infrastructure.

Architecture and Key Specifications

At its core, the 88E6191X is an 11-port multi-gigabit switch controller. Its port configuration is highly versatile, typically supporting a mix of multi-gigabit (1G/2.5G/5G/10G) Ethernet interfaces and higher-speed uplinks. This flexibility allows system designers to tailor the solution for various access, aggregation, and backbone applications. The architecture is built around a non-blocking switch fabric, ensuring line-rate, low-latency performance across all ports simultaneously, which is critical for latency-sensitive applications like real-time communication and financial trading.

The device integrates Marvell's innovative Frame Engine technology, which provides advanced packet processing and deep buffering capabilities. This enables sophisticated traffic management features, including Quality of Service (QoS), Access Control Lists (ACLs), and policy-based routing. These features ensure reliable delivery of time-critical data and enhanced network security.

Advanced Feature Set

A significant strength of the 88E6191XA0 lies in its comprehensive software-defined networking (SDN) support. It is fully programmable and compatible with Marvell's SDK and Easy-Switch software ecosystem, which simplifies development and accelerates time-to-market. Key software features include:

VLAN Support (IEEE 802.1Q): For network segmentation and security.

Layer 3 Routing: Static and dynamic routing protocols (e.g., RIP, OSPF) for intelligent traffic forwarding.

Security: Hardware-based MACsec (IEEE 802.1AE) encryption on ports provides robust security for data in transit, protecting against eavesdropping and other attacks.

Synchronization: Support for IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) is essential for applications requiring nanosecond-level clock synchronization across the network, such as 5G fronthaul and industrial automation.

Resiliency: Protocols like MRP (IEEE 802.1Qcc) and ERPS (G.8032) ensure rapid network recovery from link failures, achieving sub-50ms convergence times.

Target Applications

The combination of high throughput, advanced features, and low power consumption makes the 88E6191XA0-BXB2C000 suitable for a wide array of applications, including:

Enterprise and Campus Switches: Top-of-rack (ToR) and aggregation switches.

Industrial Networking: Ruggedized switches for manufacturing and automation.

Carrier Ethernet & 5G Infrastructure: Cell site routers and backhaul equipment.

Network Security Appliances: Firewalls and unified threat management (UTM) systems.

ICGOOODFIND: The Marvell 88E6191XA0-BXB2C000 is a highly versatile and powerful Ethernet switch controller that stands out for its blend of multi-gigabit port flexibility, advanced Layer 2/3 features, and robust security with MACsec encryption. Its programmability and support for precise timing protocols make it a future-proof choice for building scalable and efficient network infrastructure across enterprise, industrial, and telecom sectors.

Keywords: Ethernet Switch, Multi-Gigabit, MACsec, Precision Time Protocol (PTP), Quality of Service (QoS)