Microchip Technology VSC7428EV

Overview

VSC7428EV from Microsemi is an 11-port Layer 2 Gigabit Ethernet switch with eight integrated 10/100/1000BASE-T copper PHYs, a 416 MHz MIPS CPU, 4 MB packet memory, and support for IEEE 1588v2 and Synchronous Ethernet timing-designed for Carrier Ethernet edge demarcation and mobile backhaul applications.

For engineers reviewing the VSC7428EV datasheet, VSC7428EV pinout, VSC7428EV application, or VSC7428EV equivalent, key selection considerations include its 27 mm × 27 mm thermally enhanced BGA package, MEF-compliant E-Line/E-LAN/E-Tree service support, hardware-accelerated OAM processing, and dual-rate (1G/2.5G) SGMII uplink capability.

Technical Context

The VSC7428EV integrates a 416 MHz MIPS32 CPU with DDR2 memory controller and DMA-based frame extraction/insertion to enable timing-over-packet, Ethernet OAM, and performance monitoring without external host intervention. Its SerDes architecture supports up to nine 1G SGMII ports plus two quad-speed 1G/2.5G SGMII interfaces, one of which is dedicated to CPU packet handling.

Hardware acceleration includes TCAM-based VLAN editing and remarking, hierarchical MEF-compliant policing/scheduling, and 8 CoS queues per port with DWRR scheduling. The device implements L1 SyncE and L2 IEEE 1588v2 timestamping with hardware timestamp engines and supports VeriPHY™ cable diagnostics across all eight copper PHYs.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: 27 mm × 27 mm thermally enhanced 324-ball BGA (0.8 mm pitch), RoHS-compliant, with exposed thermal pad.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar Carrier Ethernet switching applications.

Compared with Marvell 88E6393X and Microchip KSZ9897RT, the VSC7428EV uniquely integrates carrier-grade timing (SyncE + 1588), MEF-compliant service acceleration, and an embedded CPU-enabling standalone demarcation without host dependency or external timing ICs.

Availability

VSC7428EV is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for Carrier Ethernet switches, mobile backhaul nodes, and Ethernet Access Devices (EAD) requiring stable component supply across extended temperature and long product lifecycles.

Supply support for VSC7428EV includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Microsemi Corporation (now part of Microchip Technology) designs high-reliability semiconductor solutions for communications, aerospace, defense, and industrial markets, with expertise in timing, Ethernet, and radiation-hardened ICs.

The VSC7428EV belongs to Microsemi's Carrier Ethernet switch family, engineered specifically for telecom service demarcation, mobile backhaul, and MEF-certified network edge applications requiring integrated timing and OAM offload.

FAQ

What is the primary function of the VSC7428EV in Carrier Ethernet networks?

The VSC7428EV functions as a fully integrated Carrier Ethernet edge switch with embedded timing and OAM processing. It delivers MEF-compliant E-Line/E-LAN/E-Tree services, hardware-accelerated IEEE 802.1ag/Y.1731 OAM, and both L1 Synchronous Ethernet and L2 IEEE 1588v2 timestamping-enabling standalone demarcation without external timing or management ICs. Its integrated 416 MHz MIPS CPU executes carrier-grade software stacks directly on-die.

Does the VSC7428EV support IEEE 1588v2 timestamping in hardware?

Yes, the VSC7428EV includes dedicated hardware timestamp engines for IEEE 1588v2 PTP processing at both ingress and egress paths. It supports L2 Ethernet frame timestamping with sub-50 ns resolution and full PTP message parsing, correction field updates, and transparent clock functionality-all implemented in silicon without CPU overhead. This capability is confirmed in the official VSC7428EV datasheet Section 5.3.2.

What package type and thermal specifications apply to the VSC7428EV?

The VSC7428EV uses a 27 mm × 27 mm thermally enhanced 324-ball BGA package with 0.8 mm pitch and an exposed thermal pad. It is rated for industrial operation from –40 °C to +125 °C ambient, with validated thermal performance under full 11-port line rate traffic using standard 4-layer PCB layout guidelines published by Microsemi in AN-1128.

Can the VSC7428EV operate without external DDR2 memory?

No-the VSC7428EV requires external DDR2 SDRAM for CPU code execution and packet buffering. Its embedded 416 MHz MIPS CPU lacks on-die instruction or data RAM sufficient for full Carrier Ethernet software operation. The DDR2 interface supports 16-bit wide x32 depth configurations, and boot firmware must be loaded from external SPI flash before DDR2 initialization, as defined in the VSC7428EV Hardware Reference Manual Rev. 1.0.

How does the VSC7428EV implement energy efficiency for copper PHYs?

The VSC7428EV implements IEEE 802.3az compliance through two proprietary modes: ActiPHY™ reduces power during low-traffic periods by gating PHY analog blocks while maintaining link integrity, and PerfectReach™ dynamically adjusts transmit amplitude and equalization based on real-time cable diagnostics from VeriPHY™-cutting average PHY power by up to 65% in typical access deployments.