News: Optoelectronics
8 December 2020
OIF launches 800G Coherent and Co-Packaging Framework IA projects
Following its Q420 Technical and MA&E Committee meetings (held virtually on 2-6 November), the Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) has announced the start of two new projects – 800G Coherent and Co-Packaging Framework – the availability of a new FlexE for 400ZR white paper, and newly elected board members/positions and working group representatives.
New projects
The 800G Coherent project’s scope is to define interoperable 800G coherent line specifications for campus and data-center interconnect (DCI) applications. The resulting Implementation Agreement (IA) will:
- define single-lambda 800G coherent line interfaces for two applications: (1) amplified, single-span DWDM links up to 80-120km and (2) unamplified, fixed-wavelength links of 2-10km;
- support Ethernet client(s) (minimum 100GE) up to 800G aggregate bandwidth.
“The next standardized coherent rate beyond 400ZR will be technically challenging, with many factors to be considered,” notes OIF vice president Tad Hofmeister, technical lead, Optical Networking Technologies at Google. “With the 800G Coherent IA, OIF is in a unique position to take a leadership role in defining interoperable 800G coherent line interfaces for various applications.”
The Co-Packaging Framework IA (announced on 10 November) will study the application spaces and relevant technology considerations for co-packaging of communication interfaces with one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). A primary objective of this specification is to identify new opportunities for interoperability standards for possible future work at the OIF or other standards organizations. Upon completion, the work will be summarized in a Framework IA.
White paper
A new OIF white paper addressing 400ZR applications requiring multiplexing of lower-rate Ethernet signals (e.g. 100GE) and how to leverage FlexE for this service multiplexing is now available.
The OIF 400ZR IA includes mapping of 400G Ethernet signals as defined in IEEE 802.3, but not lower-rate services such as 100G Ethernet. The white paper describes utilizing the OIF FlexE Implementation Agreement multiplexing of lower service rates, such as 100G and 200G Ethernet to a 400G frame that can be carried by 400ZR devices. Example profiles are provided to guide interoperability in common scenarios.
Election results
Board of directors:
- Ian Betty, Ciena, continues to serve on the board and was appointed as president;
- Mark Filer, Microsoft, was elected to the board (two-year term);
- Tad Hofmeister, Google, continues to serve on the board and was re-appointed as vice president;
- Mike Li, Intel, was re-elected to the board (one-year term);
- Jeffery Maki, Juniper Networks, was elected to the board (one-year term);
- Gary Nicholl, Cisco, was re-elected to the board (two-year term) and appointed as secretary/treasurer;
- Nathan Tracy, TE Connectivity, was re-elected to the board (two-year term) and appointed as VP of marketing.
Officers:
- Klaus-Holger Otto, Nokia, was elected as technical committee chair;
- Karl Bois, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, was elected as technical committee vice chair;
- Lyndon Ong, Ciena, was re-elected as Market Awareness & Education Committee co-chair, Networking;
- Richard Ward, Intel, was elected as Market Awareness & Education Committee co-chair, Physical and Link Layer;
- Dave Brown, Nokia, continues to serve as director of communications.
Technical Committee:
- Michael Klempa, Amphenol, was elected as Physical and Link Layer Interoperability Working Group chair (two-year term);
- Jeffery Maki, Juniper Networks, was re-elected as Physical Layer User Group Working Group chair (two-year term).
“I’m looking forward to serving OIF members as president of this vital organization and thank all those who have served and continue to serve,” says new president Ian Betty. “OIF’s role continues to be critical in making great strides in interoperability solutions for today’s and tomorrow’s challenges.”
OIF publishes Implementation Agreement for 400ZR coherent optical interface
