9 March 2011

Avago unveils fiber-optics for data-center, storage, computing and consumer applications

At this week’s Optical Fiber Communication Conference (OFC 2011) in Los Angeles (8–10 March), Avago Technologies has announced availability of multiple new solutions in its portfolio of 10–120 Gigabit fiber optics, and in booth 2001 is demonstrating technologies developed with partners and customers.

The set of optical solutions, which covers both embedded parallel modules and industry-standard pluggable modules, enables designers to differentiate their products and solve interconnect bandwidth challenges, says the firm.

New optical solutions and demonstrations at OFC include:

• sampling availability of Avago’s small-footprint MiniPOD embedded parallel optical transmitters and receivers enabling bandwidth of up to 120Gbps;

• announcement of the first QSFP+ 40G-iSR4 pluggable parallel optic transceiver module for 40 Gigabit Ethernet applications and high-density 10 Gigabit applications, along with a demonstration of the technology using new Top-of-Rack (ToR) data center switches from a leading manufacturer;

• demonstration of the first multi-Gigabit consumer optical interconnect; and

• demonstration of a 25Gbps vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) integrated into an SFP+ platform interoperating with the latest Avago 40nm Serial/Deserializer (SerDes) core.

Avago aims to bring fiber-optic solutions from the data centers of today to future consumer and home computing applications, says Philip Gadd, VP & general manager of the Fiber Optics Product Division. “We differentiate ourselves by serving as a technology partner — helping customers differentiate themselves, and their products, leveraging our world-class engineering, innovative technology in lasers, photodetectors and CMOS ICs, and unrivaled supply chain expertise,” he adds.

1. Embedded parallel optics deliver highest bandwidth interconnect

Avago’s embedded parallel optics allow fiber-optic interfaces to be located close to an ASIC or FPGA and deliver what is claimed to be the world’s highest bandwidth. These benefits are leveraged in applications such as next-generation supercomputers powering scientific research breakthroughs, as well as for high-performance routers, switches and other data-center equipment enabling cloud computing, server virtualization and video-on-demand.

In particular, MicroPOD embedded parallel optics are claimed to be the world’s smallest 120Gbps optical transmitters and receivers. They offer 12 transmit or receive channels at up to 10.3125Gbps while consuming only 125mW per channel. MicroPOD modules deliver high performance in both air-cooled and water-cooled environments, and are in production today powering the world’s fastest supercomputers.

MicroPOD devices have an 8.2mm by 7.8mm footprint with an LGA electrical interface for ultra-dense embedded solutions, while the new MiniPOD arrays have a 22mm by 18.5mm footprint with a 9mm by 9mm MegArray connector for simplified embedded solutions and ease of manufacturing. Avago is announcing sampling availability of the MiniPOD interconnects, which feature a low-cost, removable fiber cable connection and a pluggable electrical connection that provide flexible cable management at installation, simplifying design and lowering cost for switching and supercomputing applications.

2. Expanding MSA-compatible pluggable optics portfolio

Avago is expanding its portfolio of multi-source agreement (MSA)-compliant pluggable optics with a new four-channel, parallel, QSFP+ transceiver for 40 Gigabit Ethernet applications with the added capability of interoperating with IEEE 10GBASE-SR compliant products. The transceiver integrates four data lanes in each direction, with each lane operating at 10.3125Gbps. This provides an aggregated bandwidth of 40Gbps for short-range, multi-lane data communication and interconnect applications. The device allows optical interoperability with any 10 Gigabit Ethernet transceiver, compliant to the IEEE 802.3ae 10GBASE-SR specifications, of form factors such as SFP+, XFP and X2.

Avago is demonstrating connectivity between 10GBASE-SR (SFP+) and the new QSFP+ 40G-iSR4 module over 100m of OM3 multi-mode fiber. Using new Top-of-Rack (ToR) data-center switches from a leading switch vendor, the demonstration connects two high-performance servers with 10GbE SFP+ network interface cards and shows real-time streaming of multiple HD movies simultaneously.

In early March, Avago launched two new mini-SFP+ (mSFP) fiber-optic transceivers that enable increased port density in Ethernet and storage equipment. The AFBR-54D7APZ transceiver addresses 8Gbps Fiber Channel for storage applications, and the AFBR-703SNZ transceiver targets next-generation 10Gbps Ethernet equipment designs. Both pluggable modules increase port density by 30% over industry-standard SFP+ transceivers, while delivering the same data-transmission performance.

3. Demonstrating first multi-Gigabit consumer optical interconnect

In a joint collaboration with VIA Labs and DisplayLink, Avago is demonstrating what is claimed to be the first multi-Gigabit consumer optical interconnect, showing high-definition (HD) video streaming through a USB 3.0 active optical cable (AOC). This surpasses the limitations of existing copper interconnects in the computing and consumer electronic space, allowing longer distances at higher-speed data rates while maintaining low cost and low power.

4. Demonstrating technology for 25Gbps serial interconnects and beyond

A third demonstration shows Avago’s high-temperature 25Gbps 850nm VCSEL integrated into the firm’s high-volume SFP+ production platform operating over 100m of OM3 multi-mode fiber. The SFP+ is interoperating with the latest Avago 40nm SerDes core. The firm’s application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) integrate the SerDes cores, increasing the bandwidth of data communication for servers, routers and other networking, computing and storage applications. Avago also recently announced demonstration of its first 28nm SerDes core with what is claimed to be industry-first 30Gbps performance.

Tags: Avago SFP+ QSFP+ AOC VCSELs

Visit: www.avagotech.com

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