
Cavium is a leading provider of network solutions and technology, offering a wide range of products and services that cater to various industries and applications.
Their network solutions are designed to address the increasing demands of data traffic and provide high-performance, high-speed networking capabilities.
Cavium's technology is built on a foundation of advanced semiconductor design, which enables them to deliver highly integrated and scalable solutions.
Their products are used in various fields, including data center, cloud, and enterprise networking, as well as in industrial and automotive applications.
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Products and Technology
Cavium began selling security processors in late 2001 with the Nitrox line, which supported features like IPsec, SSL, intrusion-detection services, and VPNs.
The company launched the Octeon processor in 2004, using a 64-bit MIPS instruction set, and offered processors with two, four, eight, or sixteen cores.
In 2012, Cavium announced a 1-48 core MIPS-processor from the Octeon-line, showing the company's commitment to innovation and scalability.
Cavium also offered ethernet switches, produced in cooperation with Xpliant, starting in 2014.
The company's product lineup expanded again in 2014 with the ThunderX, a 48 core server SoC based on the ARMv8 architecture.
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Acquisitions

Cavium has made several strategic acquisitions over the years to expand its product offerings and capabilities.
In August 2008, Cavium acquired Star Semiconductor, which brought ARM-based systems-on-chip processors to the company's portfolio.
Cavium also acquired W&W Communications in December 2008, adding video compression software and hardware to its product line.
The company's acquisition of MontaVista Software in December 2009 provided Cavium with Carrier Grade Linux compliant Linux and embedded systems.
In January 2011, Cavium acquired Celestial Semiconductor, which specialized in SoCs for digital media applications, including satellite, cable, and Internet TV.
Wavesat Telecommunications was acquired by Cavium in February 2011, adding semiconductor solutions for carrier and mobile device manufacturers to the company's offerings.
Xpliant, Inc. was acquired by Cavium in July 2014, bringing switching and SDN specialist capabilities to the company.
In June 2016, Cavium acquired QLogic, Inc., expanding its product line to include Ethernet and Storage Specialist solutions.
Here's a list of Cavium's acquisitions in chronological order:
Mips64 Instruction Set
Cavium has its own MIPS architecture, specifically the MIPS64 instruction set architecture, which is compatible with its cnMIPS series microarchitecture.
This means that the MIPS64 instruction set is a key component of Cavium's product lineup, and it's used in its cnMIPS series microarchitecture.
The MIPS64 instruction set is a 64-bit instruction set architecture, which provides a high level of performance and efficiency for Cavium's products.
OCTEON II System Chip
The OCTEON II System Chip was a significant development in Cavium's product line. It was built on the MIPS instruction set and offered a range of core options, including 2, 4, 8, or 16 cores.
In 2012, Cavium announced an expansion of the Octeon line to include 1-48 core MIPS-processors. This move aimed to provide more flexibility for customers.
The OCTEON II System Chip was designed to support various features, including IPsec, SSL, intrusion-detection services, and VPNs. These features were essential for network security and performance.
Cavium's ThunderX series also offered a 48 core server SoC based on the ARMv8 architecture. This was a significant departure from the MIPS instruction set used in the OCTEON II.
Here's a comparison of the CN87xx_xx and CN88xx_xx ThunderX series:
Network Patents
Network Patents are a crucial aspect of innovation in the tech industry, and Cavium Networks is no exception. They have filed 563 patents, showcasing their commitment to pushing the boundaries of what's possible.
One notable patent filed by Cavium Networks is for "Pair merge execution units for microinstructions". This patent was granted on April 8, 2025, and it's related to instruction set architectures, instruction processing, parallel computing, microprocessors, and metadata.
Cavium Networks has a strong track record of innovation, and their patents reflect their focus on intelligent processing in networking, communications, storage, and security applications.
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Financial and Market Information
Cavium Networks's estimated annual revenue is currently $382.3M per year.
Their revenue per employee is a staggering $385,000, which gives you an idea of the company's financial muscle.
Acquisition
Cavium made several significant acquisitions to expand its product offerings. One notable acquisition was Star Semiconductor in August 2008, which brought ARM-based systems-on-chip processors to the table.
Cavium's acquisition spree continued with the purchase of W&W Communications in December 2008, adding video compression software and hardware to their portfolio.
In 2009, Cavium acquired MontaVista Software, gaining Carrier Grade Linux compliant Linux & embedded systems.
The following year, Cavium acquired Celestial Semiconductor in January 2011, bringing SoCs for digital media applications, including satellite, cable, and Internet TV.
In February 2011, Cavium acquired Wavesat Telecommunications, expanding its offerings to semiconductor solutions for carrier and mobile device manufacturers.
Cavium continued to grow through acquisitions, including the purchase of Xpliant, Inc. in July 2014, which specialized in switching and SDN technology.
In June 2016, Cavium acquired QLogic, Inc., adding Ethernet and Storage Specialist capabilities to its portfolio.
Cavium's growth didn't end with its acquisitions, as it was itself acquired by Marvell Technology Group in November 2017 for $6 billion in cash and stock. The merger was finalized on July 6, 2018.
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Revenue & Valuation
Let's take a closer look at the financial health of Cavium Networks. Their estimated annual revenue is currently a whopping $382.3M per year.
This is a significant number, and it's worth noting that it's a substantial source of income for the company.
Cavium Networks has a revenue per employee of $385,000.
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Networks and Competitors
Cavium Networks has a range of competitors in the market, including #1GLO, #2Orca Systems, and #3Symmetry Electronics, among others.
These competitors vary in terms of revenue, with #3Symmetry Electronics generating $27.2M, while #1GLO and #2Orca Systems each bring in $4M and $4.4M respectively.
The company was acquired by Marvell in November 2017.
Cavium Networks' competitors also differ in terms of employee count, with #6KIOXIA America having 406 employees, compared to #7Macnica America having 67 employees.
Here's a table summarizing some key statistics about Cavium Networks' competitors:
Network Competitors & Alternatives
In the world of networks, competition is fierce. Cavium Networks is just one player in a crowded field.
The company has several competitors, including #1GLO, which has a revenue of $4M and 21 employees. #2Orca Systems has a slightly higher revenue of $4.4M and 23 employees.
Symmetry Electronics is another major competitor, with a revenue of $27.2M and 99 employees. This puts them far ahead of the other companies on this list in terms of revenue.
Here's a list of some of Cavium Networks' competitors:
These companies are all listed as competitors or alternatives to Cavium Networks.
What Is Networks

Networks are groups of interconnected nodes that share information and resources.
They can be physical, like a local area network (LAN) in a home or office, or virtual, like the internet.
A network's architecture can be centralized, decentralized, or a combination of both.
In a decentralized network, nodes can communicate directly with each other without a central hub.
Decentralized networks are often more resilient and secure than centralized ones.
Networks can be categorized into different types, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and metropolitan area networks (MANs).
LANs typically connect devices within a limited geographic area, such as a home or office building.
WANs, on the other hand, connect devices over a larger geographic area, such as a city or country.
MANs fall somewhere in between, connecting devices within a metropolitan area.
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About Networks
Cavium Networks was acquired by Marvell in November 2017.
Cavium Networks provides highly integrated semiconductor products.
It enables intelligent processing in networking, communications, storage, and security applications.
Cavium Networks offers a broad portfolio of integrated, software-compatible processors.
It provides intelligent functionality in enterprise, data-center, broadband, or consumer and access and service provider equipment.
Cavium Networks was founded in 2000.
It is based in San Jose, California.
On a similar theme: Integrated Device Technology
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the CEO of Cavium?
Syed Ali is the CEO, President, and Founder of Cavium, a leading semiconductor company. He is a prominent figure in the tech industry with a rich background in leadership and innovation.
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