LSI

LSI Logic was an American semiconductor and electronic-design-automation company whose business evolved from custom application-specific integrated circuits into a broad portfolio of storage, networking, communications, and embedded-processing products. The company was incorporated in late 1980 by Wilfred J. Corrigan and began operating in early 1981 from leased facilities in Santa Clara, California. Its name referred to large-scale integration, the process of placing increasingly complex numbers of electronic functions on a single chip. The company initially focused on CMOS gate arrays and ASICs. Unlike many early ASIC suppliers, LSI Logic supplied customers with design software and development tools rather than keeping the design flow entirely in-house. Its early LSI Design System combined simulation, placement, routing, and computer-aided design functions, helping customers customize semiconductor designs for particular products. This software-centered approach supported rapid sales growth and helped the company complete an initial public offering on Nasdaq in 1983. During the 1980s and 1990s, LSI Logic expanded internationally and broadened its semiconductor capabilities. It established operations in Japan, the United Kingdom, and Canada; participated in a Japanese wafer-fabrication joint venture; and licensed processor technologies from MIPS Computer Systems and Sun Microsystems. Its acquisitions and partnerships added graphics, video compression, Ethernet physical-layer, storage, and communications expertise. LSI Logic also became involved in the development of application-specific silicon for major technology customers. In the 1990s, Sony Computer Entertainment selected the company as an ASIC partner for the original PlayStation, using LSI Logic’s CoreWare design capabilities to integrate important system functions. The company entered the 2000s with a much stronger emphasis on storage and networking. Acquisitions such as Symbios Logic, Seeq Technology, IntraServer, C-Cube Microsystems, the RAID adapter business of American Megatrends, Mylex, and other storage-related assets expanded its controller, host-bus-adapter, RAID, video, and connectivity portfolios. Storage activities were organized through businesses that later included LSI Logic Storage Systems and Engenio Information Technologies. Some consumer and mobility businesses were subsequently sold or transferred as the company concentrated on enterprise infrastructure. In 2007, LSI Logic completed its merger with Agere Systems and adopted the name LSI Corporation. The combination added communications and mobility technologies, but the renamed company continued to reshape its portfolio through divestitures and acquisitions. It sold its consumer products business to Magnum Semiconductor, transferred its mobility division to Infineon, and acquired or developed products for enterprise storage, flash acceleration, and server connectivity. The acquisition of SandForce in 2012 added flash-storage controller technology and supported the Nytro family of PCIe cards and application-acceleration products. LSI also sold its Engenio external-storage systems business to NetApp in 2011. Avago Technologies announced an agreement to acquire LSI Corporation in December 2013, and the transaction closed on May 6, 2014. LSI consequently ceased to operate as an independent publicly traded company. Avago later became Broadcom Inc., and LSI’s technologies and businesses were incorporated into Broadcom’s storage-connectivity and semiconductor portfolio. The LSI Logic name therefore survives primarily as a historical and product lineage reference rather than as an independent operating company.

LSI Logic was incorporated in November 1980 by Wilfred J. Corrigan and began commercial operations in 1981 in Santa Clara, California. Corrigan assembled a founding team that included Bill O’Meara, Rob Walker, and Mitchell “Mick” Bohn. Initial financing came from venture-capital and institutional investors. The company’s original commercial concept was to manufacture CMOS gate arrays whose interconnections could be customized for individual applications. It licensed and improved existing gate-array designs while developing its own design methodology. A defining early decision was to make design software available to customers. LSI Logic’s LSI Design System integrated simulation and physical-design functions and helped customers create their own ASIC implementations. The company later developed internal tools and adopted increasingly capable computing platforms, while eventually supporting third-party EDA tools as the wider industry matured. Strong sales growth led to a Nasdaq initial public offering in May 1983. LSI Logic expanded outside the United States during the 1980s, creating affiliates and subsidiaries in Japan, the United Kingdom, and Canada. In Japan it formed a wafer-fabrication joint venture with Kawasaki Steel. The company also became active in industry coordination through SEMATECH, although it later withdrew. Processor licensing agreements with MIPS Computer Systems and Sun Microsystems allowed LSI Logic to manufacture or incorporate MIPS and SPARC-related technologies. Acquisitions in graphics and PC chipsets led to the creation of Headland Technology. During the 1990s, the company moved beyond general-purpose ASIC work into increasingly specialized systems silicon. It introduced CoreWare subsystems as part of its ASIC design flow and developed important customer relationships in consumer electronics. Sony Computer Entertainment selected LSI Logic to help integrate the original PlayStation’s CPU and related system functions, including graphics, direct-memory-access, input/output, and bus-control elements. LSI also entered HDTV signal-processing work and continued building networking and communications capabilities. The company’s acquisition strategy accelerated around the turn of the century. Symbios Logic added storage and connectivity technology; Seeq contributed Ethernet physical-layer products; IntraServer expanded server connectivity; C-Cube Microsystems brought video-compression expertise; and the American Megatrends RAID adapter business added MegaRAID intellectual property, host-bus adapters, and engineering personnel. LSI later acquired Mylex and combined storage businesses under structures that included LSI Logic Storage Systems and Engenio Information Technologies. The company closed or sold selected manufacturing assets as it increasingly emphasized fabless or asset-light semiconductor operations. In 2005, Abhi Talwalkar, formerly an Intel executive, became president and chief executive officer. LSI Logic agreed in 2006 to merge with Agere Systems, a transaction completed in April 2007. The combined company was renamed LSI Corporation. The post-merger period included substantial portfolio restructuring: the consumer products operation went to Magnum Semiconductor, the mobility division went to Infineon, the Thai assembly and test operation was sold, and Tarari was acquired for silicon and software used in data processing. LSI Corporation subsequently concentrated on enterprise storage, server connectivity, and flash acceleration. It acquired the 3ware RAID business from Applied Micro Circuits, bought network-attached-storage provider ONStor, sold Engenio to NetApp, and completed the acquisition of SandForce. SandForce technology became part of the company’s flash-storage strategy and contributed to the Nytro line of PCIe acceleration cards and related storage solutions. The company moved its stock listing from the New York Stock Exchange back to Nasdaq in 2012. Avago Technologies announced its purchase of LSI Corporation in December 2013. The transaction closed on May 6, 2014. LSI was absorbed into Avago, which later became Broadcom Inc. The independent LSI corporate identity and listing ended, while parts of its storage, networking, ASIC, and connectivity technology continued within Broadcom’s product organization.

• 2014

  Acquired by Avago Technologies

  [1]LSI Logicen.wikipedia.org

  Avago completes its acquisition of LSI Corporation, ending LSI’s independent corporate existence.

• 2012

  Nytro product family introduced

  [1]LSI Logicen.wikipedia.org

  Following the SandForce acquisition, LSI develops PCIe-based flash and application-acceleration products under the Nytro name.

• 2011

  Engenio sold to NetApp

  [1]LSI Logicen.wikipedia.org

  The external storage systems business is divested to NetApp.

• 2007

  Agere merger and rebranding

  [1]LSI Logicen.wikipedia.org

  LSI Logic completes its Agere Systems merger and becomes LSI Corporation.

• 2001

  C-Cube and MegaRAID expansion

  [1]LSI Logicen.wikipedia.org

  LSI acquires C-Cube Microsystems and the RAID adapter division of American Megatrends, strengthening video and storage portfolios.

• 1998

  Symbios Logic acquisition

  [1]LSI Logicen.wikipedia.org

  The acquisition adds storage, connectivity, and related semiconductor capabilities.

• 1993

  PlayStation ASIC partnership

  [1]LSI Logicen.wikipedia.org

  Sony Computer Entertainment selects LSI Logic as an ASIC partner for the original PlayStation platform.

• 1987

  SEMATECH founding membership

  [1]LSI Logicen.wikipedia.org

  LSI Logic is among the founding members of SEMATECH and later withdraws from the organization.

• 1983

  Initial public offering

  [1]LSI Logicen.wikipedia.org

  The company completes an IPO and begins trading on Nasdaq under the LLSI symbol.

• 1981

  Operations begin

  [1]LSI Logicen.wikipedia.org

  LSI Logic begins operating in Santa Clara, California, initially developing CMOS gate arrays and ASIC design tools.

A design-led semiconductor supplier serving data-center storage, networking, communications, and embedded-computing markets.

• Application-specific integrated circuits · 1981

  ASIC and gate-array solutions

  LSI Logic’s original business centered on customizable CMOS gate arrays and ASICs. The company supplied semiconductor design methodologies, design software, and implementation services that allowed customers to tailor chips for particular systems. Over time, these capabilities expanded into reusable subsystems and processor-based designs, including the CoreWare platform.

• ASIC design subsystems · 1992

  CoreWare

  CoreWare was a library and design-flow approach for integrating reusable processor, controller, and system functions into custom silicon. It helped LSI Logic address complex system-on-chip requirements and was used in notable consumer-electronics and embedded applications.

• RAID controllers and software · 2001

  MegaRAID

  MegaRAID comprised RAID adapter hardware, firmware, and software used to manage protected disk arrays in servers and storage systems. LSI obtained important MegaRAID technology and personnel through its 2001 acquisition of the American Megatrends RAID adapter business, making the name a central part of its storage-controller portfolio.

• Flash-storage acceleration · 2012

  Nytro

  Nytro was a family of PCIe cards and storage solutions designed to accelerate data-center applications through flash memory and controller technology. The line included WarpDrive application-acceleration cards, Nytro XD solutions, and Nytro MegaRAID products, drawing on technology obtained through the SandForce acquisition.

• External storage systems

  Engenio

  Engenio operated as LSI’s external-storage systems business, supplying enterprise storage platforms and related systems. LSI sold the business to NetApp in 2011, so it was no longer part of LSI’s portfolio after the transaction.

• 2013

  Agree to acquisition by Avago TechnologiesM&A

  Background

  Avago sought to expand its semiconductor portfolio with LSI’s storage, networking, and connectivity technologies.

  Action taken

  LSI agreed to be acquired by Avago Technologies in an all-cash transaction announced in December 2013.

  Aftermath

  The transaction closed on May 6, 2014, and LSI ceased to be an independent publicly traded company.

  acquisition consideration. 6600000000 USD (Announced December 2013; completed May 6, 2014)

  Source

• 2012

  Build the Nytro flash-acceleration portfolioProduct launch

  Background

  The SandForce acquisition gave LSI flash-memory controller technology as demand for solid-state storage and server acceleration grew.

  Action taken

  LSI introduced Nytro PCIe cards and related application-acceleration storage products.

  Aftermath

  Nytro became a visible part of LSI’s data-center storage strategy and connected its controller business with enterprise flash adoption.

  Source

• 2011

  Sell the Engenio storage systems businessM&A

  Background

  LSI sought to concentrate on semiconductor components and related infrastructure technologies rather than operate a broad external-storage systems business.

  Action taken

  LSI sold Engenio to NetApp in 2011.

  Aftermath

  The transaction narrowed LSI’s operating scope while preserving a relationship with the enterprise-storage market through components and controllers.

  Source

• 2007

  Complete the Agere Systems merger and rebrandM&A

  Background

  LSI Logic pursued Agere Systems to broaden its semiconductor portfolio with communications and mobility technologies.

  Action taken

  The merger was completed in April 2007 and the combined company adopted the LSI Corporation name.

  Aftermath

  The enlarged company later restructured its portfolio, including the sale of its consumer and mobility businesses and a stronger emphasis on storage and infrastructure silicon.

  Source

1. 1LSI Logicen.wikipedia.org