27 June 2012

Avago launches 120Gbps parallel-optic modules for cloud computing and data centers

Avago Technologies has announced the availability of production volumes of 120Gbps multi-channel optical transmitter and receiver modules for ‘inside-the-box’ data-center applications and a CXP pluggable transceiver for board-edge ‘box-to-box’ and ‘rack-to-rack’ communications.

The firm says that, driven by exploding demand for online media and applications in a cloud computing environment, the modules suit communications within data centers, server farms, network switches, telecom switching centers and other high-performance embedded applications that require high-speed data transfers. System applications include data aggregation, backplane communications, proprietary protocol data transfers, and other high-density/high-bandwidth applications.

“Avago is delivering the industry’s highest optical port density, resulting in the best bandwidth per dollar and the lowest power,” claims product line manager Sharon Hall. “No matter what a customer’s high-density optical interconnect specifications are, Avago has a solution and form-factor to meet their needs,” she adds.

The stand-alone MiniPOD transmit and receive modules — the AFBR-81uVxyZ and AFBR-82uVxyZ, respectively —  each contain 12 uni-directional channels (lanes) that can each transfer data at 10.3125Gb/s using 64b/66b encoding for an aggregate data rate of 120Gb/s for each module. The CXP pluggable edge-mount transceiver module (AFBR-83PDZ) is an integrated solution that contains 12 transmit and 12 receive lanes that operate at the same data transfer rates as the MiniPOD modules.

The MiniPOD modules deliver what is claimed to be the highest front panel density in the industry, with 36 times the density of standard SFP+ solutions. For users needing a pluggable solution, the CXP transceivers are half the cost per 10Gbps lane compared with standard pluggable SFP+ solutions, it is reckoned. Both MiniPOD and CXP solutions operate at 25% the power per 10Gbps lane compared with SFP+ modules, the firm adds. In addition, the optical components have superior jitter performance, high signal integrity, and low EMI emissions.

The MiniPOD optical modules and CXP transceiver can transmit data up to 100m using OM3 fiber, and up to 150m using OM4-grade fiber. All the optical components are compliant to the 100 Gigabit Ethernet specifications 802.2ba (100GBASE-SR10 and nPPI) as well as the QDR Infiniband standard. Avago’s vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) arrays (operating at a wavelength of 850nm) are used for the transmitters, and the firm’s PIN diode array is used for for the receivers.

The MiniPOD modules are available in two package options to support either flat ribbon or round fiber jumper cables. Evaluation boards are available for both the CXP transceiver module (AFBR-83EVK) and the MiniPOD modules (AFBR-800EVK).

Tags: Avago

Visit: www.avagotech.com/fiber