#OFC2016: AT&T Pushes for Open ROADM MSA

An Open ROADM project is underway with the backing of AT&T and a goal of driving faster innovation and open software control for the Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexers (ROADMs) used in optical transport networks.

The Open ROADM Multi-Source Agreement (MSA) defines interoperability specifications for Reconfigurable Optical Add/Drop Multiplexers (ROADM). Included are the ROADM switch as well as transponders and pluggable optics. Specifications consist of both Optical interoperability as well as YANG data models.

Participants in the MSA include AT&T, Ciena, Fujitsu, and Alcatel-Lucent USA (Nokia).

http://openroadm.org/home.html

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#OFC2016: Inphi Targets DCI with QSFP28 Design

Inphi unveiled a QSFP28 reference design that uses advanced Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM4) signaling to deliver up to 4 Tbps of bandwidth over a single fiber at distances up to 80km.  The target application is metro Data Center Interconnect (DCI). Commercial launch date was not specified.

Key features of Inphi's "ColorZ":

• QSFP28 form factor supporting 100G Ethernet
• Extended reach up to 80km
• Enables 4Tb/s capacity over a single fiber
• 4.5W power dissipation
• ITU wavelength grid compatible
• "InphiNity" Core DSP Engine with a unique mixed-mode DSP architecture for high performance, low power applications needing adaptability and configurability
• Multiple programmable FEC options with varying levels of pre-FEC BER performance
• Numerous self-test and loopback modes that allow diagnostic monitoring of channel and system parameters
• Eye-scan, samplers and monitors on all receiver interfaces for link margin and stress testing along with GUI and API routines for data and error analytics  

“The current gap in the inter-data center interconnects is at the sub 80km segment, which is being supported by 10G solutions today. ColorZ is filling the gap with 100G links matching the rest of the data center network,” said Dr. Loi Nguyen, founder, senior vice president, Optical Interconnect at Inphi. “This demonstrates Inphi’s continued industry leadership, as we build on our technology foundation to dramatically reduce the cost of data movement.”

https://www.inphi.com/media-center/press-room/press-releases-and-media-alerts/inphi-debuts-100g-dwdm-solution-for-80km-data-center-interconnects.php

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#OFC2016: Inphi Develops Silicon Photonics for Data Centers

Inphi announced a highly integrated Silicon Photonics (SiPho) chip that includes multi-channel modulators, photodetectors, multiplexers, demultiplexers, optical power monitors and fiber coupling structures on the same integrated circuit (IC).  The chip is targeted at 100G intra and inter data center optical interconnects.

The company said it expects a 100G upgrade cycle in data centers to begin this year with the introduction of a new generation of 3.2T switches using QSFP28 pluggable transceivers.

Inphi believes its SiPho technology, coupled with its low power DSP-based PAM4 and linear amplifiers/drivers, will deliver the industry’s first 100G DWDM PAM4 platform reference design for the QSFP28 form factor.

“Inphi selected Silicon Photonics over competing platforms, because it allows us to integrate multiple key photonics components in a single IC,” said Dr. Radha Nagarajan, chief technology officer, Optical Interconnect at Inphi. “Silicon Phonics technology enables us to deliver innovative solutions to solve customer’s pain points today.  Silicon Photonics also scales well into the future for next-generation optics.”

https://www.inphi.com

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#OFC2016: Lumentum Targets Optical Whiteboxes for SDN

Lumentum (formerly JDSU) unveiled an "optical whitebox" platform for data center & metro/edge DWDM transport.

Lumentum said its SDN optical whitebox platform will consist of family of configurable building blocks with open interfaces for integration into SDN controller/orchestrator layers, enabling system integrators and network operators to deploy and turn-up services. The initial products based on this SDN whitebox platform target simple point-to-point DCI applications, as well as ROADMs (for metro edge DWDM transport). These include:

Terminal Amplifier: The terminal amplifier whitebox and its associated mux/demux form the endpoints of a transport link.  It supports two high-power variable gain EDFAs, OSC termination, optical channel monitor, and automatic line protection within a 1RU network element.

Mux/Demux: The mux/demux is a passive element that provides the entry/exit point for data transmission channels. The device requires no external power or management connections.  Inventory data for the device is visible through its associated terminal amplifier.

Line Amplifier: The line amplifier whitebox is used to extend system reach beyond the single span limit of the terminal amplifier whitebox. It combines all necessary functions to support amplification in two directions into a single 1RU network element.

ROADM: The ROADM whitebox is used to support wavelength agility in meshed networks. It supports a TrueFlex twin 1xN (9-20+) or single 1xN (2-9) wavelength selective switch, two high power variable gain EDFAs, OSC termination, and optical channel monitor within a 1RU network element.

“SDN optical whiteboxes are another example of Lumentum partnering with customers to anticipate, construct and deliver solutions they need to fulfill the relentless demand for higher performance, higher density, and lower cost,” said Madhu Krishnaswamy, director, product line management, Optical Communications. “The platform is customizable, and supports the addition of updated features for dynamic market conditions.”

https://www.lumentum.com/

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Cisco Brings High-Density TDM to Optical Transport

Cisco rolled out a number of enhancements to its optical transport portfolio including high-density time-division multiplexing (TDM) to IP/MPLS capabilities.

Some highlights:

Cisco Network Convergence System (NCS) 4200 Series: Part of the Cisco Evolved Programmable Network (EPN), this transport system addresses network inefficiencies with high-density circuit emulation technology located at the network edge. It converts TDM services into pseudowires that facilitate transport over highly scalable MPLS core networks. With this technology, service providers can keep their existing operational models and service revenue while running all services over IP and retiring their older networks. Service providers can reduce space and power required over existing solutions by up to 90 percent.

Multi-service line card for the Cisco NCS 4000 Series - a new, multi-service line card that doubles slot bandwidth to 400Gbps, while providing port-by-port, pay-as-you-grow flexibility for OTN, Packet, MPLS and Coherent DWDM service. When deployed in the Cisco NCS 4009 and NCS 4016 platforms, chassis density doubles to 3.6Tbps and 6.4Tbps, respectively. The NCS 4000 Fabric is also enhanced to help enable unprecedented in-service scale from a single Cisco NCS 4000 chassis (6.4Tbps) to a Multi-Chassis solution capable of delivering over 100Tbps of capacity leveraging Cisco’s multi-chassis leadership.

Increased density and flexibility for the Cisco NCS 2000 Series: New XPonder line card provides 400 Gbps of client and 400 Gbps of trunk capacity to Cisco’s widely deployed optical transport platform. The XPonder supports OTN, packet and coherent DWDM while contributing significantly to cost reduction – one line card for any mix of DWDM, gray, OTN and packet services.

Cisco NCS 1000 data center interconnect solution - commercial shipment is now underway. Cisco said the DWDM solution is now in trials with 9 top cloud providers.

“We are committed to offering service providers the technology to transform their network architectures and achieve the operational efficiency, scale, and reliability needed to succeed in the digital age,” said Bill Gartner, vice president of optical systems, access routing and transceivers group, Cisco. “We are confident that our new innovations in packet optical convergence will enable our customers to transform their networks today while positioning them to face the challenges and leverage the opportunities presented by a future dominated by the Internet of Things.”

Cisco also confirmed that Verizon will deploy the Cisco NCS Series on portions of its 100G metro network.

http://www.cisco.com

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Stratoscale Secures $27M for Hyperconverged Software

Stratoscale, a start-up based in Herzeliya, Israel, secured $27 million in Series C financing for its distributed data center operating system.

Stratoscale's hardware-agnostic Software Defined Data Center (SDDC) solution that offers a holistic data center experience. Its rack-scale architecture aims to transform standard x86 servers into a hyper-converged infrastructure for cloud services while supporting both containers and virtualization on the same platform.  Stratoscale’s true “plug and play” architecture supports OpenStack and Docker.

Qualcomm Ventures joined the Series C financing round with participation from all existing investors. Stratoscale has now raised over $70 million in funding over the past three years that is dedicated to support global expansion of the company.

“Today’s data center managers are looking to Stratoscale to help them more effectively manage their technology infrastructure. To help us scale globally, we are proud to have the support and investment from Qualcomm Ventures,” said Ariel Maislos, CEO of Stratoscale. “This investment enables us to accelerate our adoption in the market and expand operations more quickly to meet the demand for an all-inclusive data center cloud offering that is scalable and efficient. We continue to deliver on the promise of what data centers should be without the burden of being locked into legacy infrastructure that doesn’t grow with your business.”

http://www.stratoscale.com

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Mellanox Announces 200 Gbps Silicon Photonics Devices

At this week's OFC, Mellanox demonstrated 50 Gbps silicon photonics optical modulators and detectors -- the key component for 200 Gbps and 400 Gbps LinkX cables and transceivers.

The demonstration is an important milestone toward providing end-to-end solutions for HDR 200G InfiniBand and Ethernet interconnect infrastructure.

“Silicon photonics is the enabling technology for 200Gb/s InfiniBand and Ethernet networks,” said Amir Prescher, executive vice president of business development and interconnect products at Mellanox. “The QSFP56 doubles the front panel density for next generation switches; enables 200G copper DACs and 50G breakout cables for adapters and inside-the-rack applications; and silicon photonics transceivers supports all data center reaches to 2km.”

Mellanox said it plans to offer 50Gbps and 200Gbps Direct Attach Copper cables (DACs); copper splitter cables (QSFP56 to 4x SFP56); silicon photonics based AOCs for reaches to 200m; and silicon photonics transceivers for reaches to 2km. Mellanox 200Gb/s cables and transceivers will seamlessly support previous generations of 40 and 100Gbps networks.

http://www.mellanox.com

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Semtech Releases Quad 25Gbps Chipset for 100G SR4

Semtech released a new chipset for quad channel 100G-SR4 optical interconnects operating at 25.78 Gbps.

The GN2108 is a quad channel CDR with integrated vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) drivers, and the GN2109 is a quad channel CDR with integrated transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs). A full suite of on-chip features minimizes external components and helps customers speed up their hardware and firmware development.

Semtech said its GN2108 VCSEL driver was architected to compensate for optical distortion introduced by VCSELs, enabling extended reach well beyond the SR4 standard to greater than 300m over OM4 fiber, operation with lower bandwidth and lower cost VCSELs, as well as operation with lower VCSEL bias settings for lower power and higher VCSEL reliability.

“The GN2108 and GN2109 chipset has strong traction with our customers,” said Dr. Timothy Vang, Senior Director of Datacom Marketing for Semtech’s Signal Integrity Product Group. “The performance and feature set of the GN2108 and GN2109 is enabling our customers to quickly bring to market winning solutions for 100Gbps QSFP28 and Active Optical Cables (AOCs) for datacenters and a wide range of other applications.”

http://www.semtech.com

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