Fabless network processor company Netronome Systems Inc. has announced that its next generation of dataflow processors will be manufactured on Intel's 22-nm FinFET process.

The new deal extends a strategic relationship with Intel that began in 2007. Netronome will offer its first 'flow processors'(NFP) based on Intel?s 3-D Tri-Gate transistor technology in 2013.

Netronome's flow processors are used for networking, security and content processing applications at data rates of up to 100-Gbps. NFPs simultaneously deliver packet processing with deep packet inspection, security processing, and I/O virtualization for millions of simultaneous stateful flows. NFPs are designed for tight coupling with Intel Architecture (IA) processors.

Netronome is the latest in a series of companies that have signed up to gain access to Intel chip manufacturing technology. Others include fabless FPGA vendors Achronix Semiconductor and Tabula Inc.