SORS (headroom) for network management and other analytical tasks. In the latest entries, performance can be scaled from OC-3 (155 Mbps) links all the way to OC-192 (10 Gbps). Intel IXA is a systems architecture that is used for network-processing purposes. It can be char- acterized by three predominant traits: Intel's Microengine technology A subsystem of programmable, multithreaded 32-bit reduced instruction set computer (RISC) microengines that have hardware multithread support. When these traits are combined, they provide over 1 giga-operations per second (more than 1,000 mega-opera- tions per second). This combination enables high-performance packet processing in the data plane through Intel's Hyper Task Chaining, a high-speed multiprocessing data plane technology that fea- tures software pipelining and low-latency sequence management hardware. Hyper Task Chaining is discussed in further detail later in this section. Intel's XScaleTM technology As of this writing, this provides the highest performance-to-power ratio in the industry. It can perform up to 1,000 millions of instructions per second (MIPS), and its power consumption can be as low as 10mW for the low-power, high-density processing of control plane applications. The Intel IXA Portability Framework An easy-to-use modular programming framework pro- viding several advantages. It provides software investment protection through code portability and reuse across hardware and software development or operating system platforms between network- processor-based projects. It also enables a faster time to market and compatibility with future gen- erations of Intel IXA network processors. Microengines are essentially packet processors that are characterized by flexibility and customiz- ability that is similar to application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). New functions or modifica- tions of older ones can be easily implemented with little cost and engineering effort. Costly equipment upgrades are eliminated, and new service capabilities can be added to ne