Optical Internetworking Forum Launches Next Gen Interconnect Project

The Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) members initiated a Next Generation Interconnect Framework project which explores various applications spaces for high speed optical and/or electrical interconnect and identifies the necessary elements for follow on implementation agreements (IA). Next gen interconnects are needed for very short reaches within the blade, longer reaches between blades (backplanes) and chassis-to-chassis. Implementations agreements interoperability between components from different vendors as well as significant investment across the ecosystem.


The OIF also started a new 100G project to address next generation integrated coherent receiver targeting lower cost, higher density applications. The Generation 2.0 Intradyne Coherence Receiver (Gen-2 ICR), will define a smaller 100G coherent receiver to satisfy the industry needs for size and cost reduction necessary to support the evolving 100G coherent DSP-based module standards. The project follows the OIF's Gen-1 ICR IA (OIF-DPC-RX-01.0 IA) that successfully enabled long haul applications using line card and large form factor transponder (e.g., MSA-100GLH) implementations.


In addition, the OIF has launched a third project addressing multi-link gearbox (MLG) for 100G client side signaling. The Multi-Link Gearbox (MLG), will enable a variety of applications where a group of 10GBASE-R virtual links are transported by a 4x25G physical link. It will define a 10:4 Mux MLG function to convert multiple (up to 10) independent 10Gb/s links into 4x25G lanes, and a 4:10 DeMux MLG function to convert the 4x25G lanes back to multiple (up to 10) independent 10Gb/s links. In addition, the MLG Project will define in-band coding that preserves 10GBASE-R physical lane-to-lane ordering and in-lane bit ordering to support synchronous and asynchronous 10G lanes. http://www.oiforum.com