PLX Announces Industry's Lowest-Power, Dual-SATA RAID Storage Controller with Real-Time Encryption

The PLX OXUFS946DSE is a quad-interface-to-dual-SATA storage controller with integrated hardware RAID and encryption engines. Bridging between eSATA, 1394 or USB 2.0 interfaces, the OXUFS946DSE delivers best-in-class performance across each of those interfaces and enables a range of external secure storage applications, including dual-disk RAID configurations. By integrating an eSATA device, 1394b link, USB 2.0 device and dual-port SATA II host controller, the OXUFS946DSE enables designers to create products with a minimal number of external components and a low BOM cost.

PLX integrated a high-throughput cipher engine into the OXUFS946DSE that provides real-time encryption and decryption capabilities to the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) in the hardware, reducing unnecessary loads on the host platform. The OXUFS946DSE solution has flexible encryption capabilities that ensure data protection against theft or loss of personal storage devices. Additionally, the OXUFS946DSE is complemented by robust PLX security solutions, including a host application to define and manage user authentication, and the mounting/unmounting of the external drive.

Industry-leading low power of only 391mW -- a key attribute of the OXUFS946DSE -- is achieved through PLX's superior combination of unique chip architecture and advanced firmware solutions. The OXUFS946DSE supports a number of power-saving modes, including SATA Interface Power Management (IPM), which allows additional power saving when connected to hard disk drives that also support IPM. This support aligns with a growing trend in external storage to move towards lower-power green solutions.

All PLX storage controllers are backed by the industry's most powerful and flexible software development environment, which results in rapid designer customization and feature differentiation. PLX enables global OEMs to deliver outstanding solutions to consumers by providing premium technical support, quality silicon and ready-to-go application firmware that have been extensively tested and field-proven. PLX, through its acquisition of Oxford Semiconductor, is a leading supplier of consumer storage solutions and is fully engaged with the world's market leaders.