List of defunct network processor companies
During the dot-com/internet bubble of the late 1990s and early 2000, the proliferation of many dot-com start-up companies created a secondary bubble in the telecommunications/computer networking infrastructure and telecommunications service provider markets. Venture capital and high tech companies rushed to build next generation infrastructure equipment for the expected explosion of internet traffic.
It has been estimated that dozens of start-up companies were created in the race to build the processors that would be a component of the next generation telecommunications equipment. Once the internet investment bubble burst, the telecom network upgrade cycle was deferred for years. As a result, the majority of these new companies went bankrupt.
As of the mid‑2020s, significant shipments of network processors are being made by major players such as Cisco Systems, Broadcom, Marvell Technology Group, Intel Corporation, and Qualcomm Technologies.
[OC-768]/40Gb routing
- ClearSpeed left network processor market, reverted to supercomputing applications
- Propulsion Networks defunct
- BOPS left network processor market, reverted to DSP applications
[OC-192]/10Gb routing
- Terago defunct
- Clearwater Networks originally named Xstream Logic, defunct
- Silicon Access defunct
- Solidum Systems acquired by Integrated Device Technology
- Lexra defunct
- Fast-Chip defunct
- Cognigine Corp. defunct
- Internet Machines morphed into IMC Semiconductors, a PCI-Express chip vendor
- Acorn Networks defunct
- XaQti acquired by Vitesse Semiconductor, product line discontinued
[OC-48]/2.5Gb routing
- IP Semiconductors defunct
- Entridia defunct
- Stargate Solutions defunct
[Gigabit Ethernet] routing
- Sibyte acquired by Broadcom, product line discontinued
- PMC-Sierra product line discontinued
[OC-12] routing
- C-port acquired by Motorola, product line discontinued
- IBM PowerNP product line discontinued
- Sitera acquired by Vitesse, product line discontinued
Access products
- Netargy defunct
- Ishoni Networks defunct
- HyWire defunct
[VOIP] products
- Silicon Spice acquired by Broadcom, product line discontinued
- Malleable Technologies acquired by PMC-Sierra, product line discontinued
Traffic managers
- Extreme Packet Devices acquired by PMC-Sierra, product line discontinued
- Azanda Network Devices acquired by Cortina, product line being sold as CS53xx family
- Teradiant defunct
- Orologic acquired by Vitesse, product line discontinued
- Maker Communications acquired by Conexant, product line discontinued
Packet classifiers
- SwitchOn acquired by PMC-Sierra, product line discontinued
- FastChip defunct
Switch fabrics
- Abrizio acquired by PMC-Sierra, product line discontinued
- Stargen left networking market for computer server market
Security products
- Chrysalis-ITS defunct