This past week, SolidRun released their newest LX2-Lite SoM based on the NXP’s Layerscape LX216A System on Chip as well as the CLEARFOG LX2-Lite off-the-shelf Development board. SolidRun claims that their LX2-Lite Mini SoM is the smallest 16-core SoM platform in the world due to 58x40mm ultra-compact footprint.

The LX2-Lite SOM combines the robust NXP’s FinFET architecture (16nm) and up to 16 Arm Cortex-A72 cores with optimized data paths for L2/3 packet processing, security offload and efficient traffic management. To increase network security and data routing performance, the SOM features a security acceleration engine (up to 50 Gbps) and a data compression engine (88 Gbps).

LX2-Lite System on Module Top and Back view
(click images to enlarge)

LX2162A Block Diagram
(click images to enlarge)

ClearFog LX2162A Kit 32GB

SolidRun and NXP anticipates their SOMs to be used for data center networking applications, 5G ORAN applications and to ease the worldwide shift to SD-WAN network architectures. 

Specifications listed for the SolidRun’s LX2 – Lite SOM include:

• Processor
  •  8x Cortex A72 NXP Layerscape LX2082A (up to 2GHz)
  • 12 x Cortex A72 NXP Layerscape LX2122A (up to 2GHz)
  • 16x Cortex A72 NXP Layerscape LX2162A (up to 2GHz)
• Memory/storage:
  • RAM —up to 32GB DDR4 
    • option for Dual Channel 64GB DDR4 support (Refer to vendor)
  • Flash — 8GB eMMC
  • MicroSD and PCIe-SSD storage support
• Networking 
  • 4 x 25 GbE or 1 x 100 GbE
  • 4 x 10GbE w/ built in PHY
  • 8 x 1GbE** (Configurable, refer to vendor)
  • Sync-E, 1588-V2
• Media I/O:
  • 3 x Hirose DF40 connectors
• Other I/O:
  • 4x I2C
  • 2x UART
  • 4x SATA Gen3.0 (refer to vendor)
• Expansion:
  • 40-pin, RPi-like GPIO connector
  • M.2 E-key 2230 slot
  • M.2 M-key 2280 slot
  • M.2 B-key 3042/3052 slot with micro-SIM slot
  • SIM card slot
• OS Support:
  • Linux
  • DPDK
  • UEFI
  • NXP Layerscape Secure Boot
• Power – 12V
• Operating temperature — 0 to 70°C 
• Dimensions – 55 x 48 mm

Specifications listed for the CLEARFOG LX2-LITE SOM carrier board include:

• Processor
  • NXP Layerscape LX2 Lite (up to 16-core) Arm Cortex A72 up to 2GHz
• Memory/storage:
  • RAM —up to 32GB DDR4 
  • Flash — 8GB eMMC
  • MicroSD storage support
• Networking 
  • 2 x SFP28 ports (25GbE each)
  • 2 x SFP+ ports (10GbE each)
  • 8 x 1GbE copper (RJ45)
• Misc:
  • USB to STM32 for remote management
  • RunBMC compliant socket
• Debug:
  • Mini USB
  • JTAG
• Power 
  • 12V DC Jack
  • ATX standard
• Operating temperature — 0 to 70°C 
• Dimensions – 170 x 137mm

 Further information

There are two off-the-shelf versions of the CLEARFOG LX2-LITE (32GB and 8GB) evaluation kits at the SolidRun shop website. They can be preordered for $1197 and $870 respectively. SolidRun also provides a Product Configuration Tool to customize your own LX216A SOM on their website.