In the controlled environment of a data center, cooling is guaranteed and temperatures are stable. But what happens when you need high-performance switching at a 5G cell tower in the desert, or inside an unventilated factory cabinet?
You need the Broadcom BCM56760B0IFSBG.
This chip is a member of the legendary StrataXGS® Trident II+ family. While its commercial siblings power thousands of data center racks, this specific "Industrial" variant is the engine behind ruggedized, high-bandwidth networks.
This guide decodes its part number, explores its architecture, and explains why it remains a critical component for critical infrastructure.
Table of Contents
- 1. Decoding the Part Number: The "Industrial" Advantage
- 2. Architecture: Inside the Trident II+
- 3. Applications: Where Rugged Meets Speed
- 4. Conclusion
1. Decoding the Part Number: The "Industrial" Advantage
Broadcom part numbers are precise. Here is the breakdown for BCM56760B0IFSBG:
The Breakdown Matrix
| Segment | Code | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Prefix | BCM | Broadcom Manufacturer Code. |
| Base | 56760 | Trident II+ Family (720 Gbps Switching Capacity). |
| Rev | B0 | Silicon Revision B0 (Mature, stable stepping). |
| Temp | I | Industrial Temperature (-40°C to +85°C). |
| Package | FS | Fine-Pitch BGA (Ball Grid Array). |
| Env | BG | RoHS Compliant (Green/Lead-Free). |
"I" vs. "K" Suffix
The most critical letter in this part number is "I".
- BCM56760A0KFSBG: The "K" stands for Commercial Temp (0°C to 70°C). This is used in standard air-conditioned enterprise switches.
- BCM56760B0IFSBG: The "I" stands for Industrial Temp. It is tested and qualified to withstand extreme cold and heat (-40°C to +85°C).
- Repair Warning: If you are repairing a piece of outdoor telecom gear, you cannot safely replace an "I" chip with a "K" chip. While it might work on the bench, it will likely fail in winter or summer extremes.
Price Analysis & Stock Availability
Broadcom chips often face long lead times.
Procurement Tip: For legacy industrial maintenance, sourcing genuine "I" temp chips is challenging. [Check Stock for BCM56760B0IFSBG at Aichiplink] to verify inventory from trusted distributors.
2. Architecture: Inside the Trident II+
The Trident II+ (TD2+) was an optimization of the original Trident II, designed to bridge the gap between 10G and 100G networking while improving energy efficiency.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Specification | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Switch Capacity | 720 Gbps | Full duplex, non-blocking performance. |
| Target Config | 48x 10GbE + 6x 40GbE | The classic "Top of Rack" or Aggregation configuration. |
| Alternative Config | 4x 100GbE Uplinks | Native support for 100G QSFP28 modules. |
| Virtualization | VXLAN / NVGRE | Hardware-accelerated tunneling for cloud networks. |
| Buffer | Integrated Smart Buffer | Dynamic allocation to prevent packet drops during micro-bursts. |
Trident II vs. Trident II+
Why choose the 56760 (TD2+) over the older 56850 (TD2)?
- Power Efficiency: TD2+ reduced power consumption by roughly 30%, which is vital for fanless or sealed industrial enclosures where heat dissipation is difficult.
- 100G Native Support: While TD2 focused heavily on 40G, TD2+ brought native 100G uplink support to the platform, future-proofing the backhaul links.
- Telemetry: Enhanced BroadView™ instrumentation for monitoring network congestion and health.
3. Applications: Where Rugged Meets Speed
The BCM56760B0IFSBG is not usually found in a standard Google or Amazon server rack. It is found at the "Edge."
- 5G / Telecom Backhaul:
- Base stations and cell towers require aggregation switches that sit in outdoor cabinets. They need 10G/40G speed to handle mobile data traffic but must survive freezing winters and baking summers.
- Military & Aerospace:
- Ruggedized switches inside vehicles, ships, or aircraft often use the 56760 due to its mature codebase, high bandwidth, and environmental tolerance.
- Industrial Automation (SCADA):
- Factories moving to "Industry 4.0" require high-bandwidth backbones for video analytics and massive sensor data collection. The "Industrial" temp rating ensures reliability on hot factory floors.
4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Is the BCM56760B0IFSBG EOL (End of Life)?
The Trident II+ family is considered "Mature" or "Not Recommended for New Designs" (NRND) as Broadcom pushes Trident 3 and Trident 4. However, stock is still available for maintenance and long-lifecycle industrial products.
2. Can this chip support 25GbE ports?
Generally, no. The Trident II+ generation was optimized for 10G and 40G lanes. Native 25GbE support became standard in the Trident 3 (BCM56870) generation.
3. Does it require an external CPU?
Yes. The BCM56760 is a switch ASIC (Packet Processor). It requires a host CPU (like an Intel Atom, NXP PowerPC, or ARM processor) to run the Network Operating System (NOS) and configure the SDK via PCIe.
5. Conclusion
The Broadcom BCM56760B0IFSBG is a specialized workhorse. By combining the massive throughput of the Trident II+ architecture with an Industrial Temperature rating, it enables high-speed networking in places where standard gear would fail.
Sourcing Industrial Network Chips Building ruggedized networking gear or maintaining legacy telecom equipment? Visit Aichiplink.com to search for BCM56760B0IFSBG and other industrial-grade Broadcom components.
Written by Jack Elliott from AIChipLink.
AIChipLink, one of the fastest-growing global independent electronic components distributors in the world, offers millions of products from thousands of manufacturers, and many of our in-stock parts is available to ship same day.
We mainly source and distribute integrated circuit (IC) products of brands such as Broadcom, Microchip, Texas Instruments, Infineon, NXP, Analog Devices, Qualcomm, Intel, etc., which are widely used in communication & network, telecom, industrial control, new energy and automotive electronics.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BCM56760B0IFSBG used for?
It is an industrial-grade Ethernet switch SoC for rugged 10G/40G network equipment.
What does the “I” suffix mean in BCM56760B0IFSBG?
“I” indicates industrial temperature support from -40°C to +85°C.
What is the switching capacity of the BCM56760?
It provides up to 720 Gbps of non-blocking switching bandwidth.
Does BCM56760B0IFSBG support 100GbE?
Yes, it supports native 100GbE uplinks using QSFP28 ports.
Is BCM56760B0IFSBG suitable for new designs?
It is mainly used for industrial and legacy platforms, not new data center designs.
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