Microchip Technology VSC7556-V/5CC

Overview

VSC7556-V/5CC from Microchip Technology is a Layer 2/Layer 3 enterprise Ethernet switch IC supporting up to 160 Gbps bandwidth, 16 × 10G or 10 × 10G + 2 × 25G port configurations, 32K MAC table entries, and dual-core 1 GHz ARM Cortex-A53 CPU for full onboard management - deployed in SMB/enterprise edge switches requiring high-density 1G–25G aggregation.

For engineers reviewing the VSC7556-V/5CC datasheet, VSC7556-V/5CC pinout, VSC7556-V/5CC application, or VSC7556-V/5CC equivalent, key selection criteria include integrated VCAP-based ACL/QoS classification, IPv4/IPv6 L3 routing with 18K unicast LPM entries, 32 Mb packet buffer, and support for EEE (IEEE 802.3az), PFC (IEEE 802.1Qbb), and RSTP/MSTP.

Technical Context

The VSC7556-V/5CC implements a multi-stage TCAM-based forwarding pipeline with four ingress VCAP CLM lookups per frame and two egress VCAP ES2 lookups, enabling deep packet inspection across L2–L4 headers for VLAN tagging, DSCP remapping, and security enforcement. It integrates a shared 32 Mb packet memory pool managed by a hierarchical scheduler supporting 32K queues.

Its dual-CPU subsystem combines a 1 GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A53 for control plane processing with an embedded ARM Cortex-M3 dedicated to PCIe boot and PoE management, interfacing via configurable DDR3/DDR4 (up to 8 GB), PCIe 3.0, and VRAP register access over Ethernet.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: 1156-ball FC-BGA (Fine-Pitch Ball Grid Array), 35 mm × 35 mm, 0.8 mm pitch, RoHS-compliant, thermal pad exposed on underside.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with VSC7552-V/5CC, the VSC7556-V/5CC adds 32 Gbps bandwidth headroom and two additional 10G SerDes lanes; compared with VSC7558-V/5CC, it reduces SerDes count and power while retaining full software compatibility - making it the optimal mid-tier choice for 10G-centric enterprise edge deployments.

Availability

VSC7556-V/5CC is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for enterprise edge switching, WiFi aggregation gateways, and security appliance interconnects requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle support, and traceable sourcing.

Supply support for VSC7556-V/5CC 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

Microchip Technology Inc. is a U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturer specializing in microcontrollers, analog devices, FPGAs, and connectivity solutions, with global design centers and ISO 9001-certified manufacturing.

The SparX-5 family, including VSC7556-V/5CC, was designed specifically for managed Layer 2/Layer 3 enterprise switching applications - targeting SMB, enterprise edge, and carrier-grade CPE equipment requiring integrated CPU, rich security, and scalable 1G–25G port flexibility.

FAQ

What is the maximum number of 25G ports supported by the VSC7556-V/5CC?

The VSC7556-V/5CC supports up to six 25G ports via its eight integrated 25G SerDes lanes - configurable as 2×25G in primary port modes like 10×10G+2×25G, or expanded to 6×25G using lane multiplexing and external retimers. This matches the device's 160 Gbps aggregate bandwidth limit and is confirmed in Table 1-1 and Table 2-1 of the official datasheet DS00003823B.

Does the VSC7556-V/5CC include an integrated CPU, and what is its role?

Yes, the VSC7556-V/5CC integrates a dual-core 1 GHz ARM Cortex-A53 CPU with MMU and DDR3/DDR4 controller, enabling full onboard switch management - running Linux-based network OS, handling CLI/REST APIs, and executing control-plane tasks without external host processor. A secondary ARM Cortex-M3 core manages PCIe boot and PoE functions, as detailed in Section 5.4 and Figure 3-1 of DS00003823B.

What Layer 3 routing capabilities does the VSC7556-V/5CC provide?

The VSC7556-V/5CC supports IPv4/IPv6 unicast and multicast routing with 18K IPv4 and 9K IPv6 LPM entries, 2K next-hop/ARP table entries, 511 router legs, and VRF-Lite (64 instances). It implements uRPF, source guard, GRE/6to4/6in4 tunnels, and ECMP (16-way), all verified in Table 2-1 and Section 3.7 of DS00003823B.

How does the VSC7556-V/5CC handle Quality of Service and traffic policing?

The VSC7556-V/5CC uses TCAM-based VCAP IS2 for per-flow classification and applies dual-rate policers (eight per port), with 4K ingress and 8K egress QoS mapping tables. It supports PFC (IEEE 802.1Qbb), low-latency cut-through forwarding, and hierarchical scheduling across 32K queues - all documented in Sections 3.5, 3.8, and Table 2-1 of DS00003823B.

Is the VSC7556-V/5CC pin-compatible with other SparX-5 family members?

The VSC7556-V/5CC shares the same 1156-ball FC-BGA package footprint and core SerDes/CPU/DDR/PCIe interface layout with VSC7552-V/5CC and VSC7558-V/5CC, enabling PCB reuse across the SparX-5 family. However, lane allocation differs: VSC7556-V/5CC dedicates 12×5G, 12×10G, and 8×25G SerDes lanes - confirmed in Table 2-1 and Figure 3-1 of DS00003823B.