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DAILY NEWS AND INFORMATION
FOR THE GLOBAL GRID COMMUNITY /
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Breaking News -
Networking:
EMCORE Introduces SmartLink 10
Gbps Fiber Interconnect
EMCORE Corp, a leading provider of compound semiconductor technologies for
global communications, announced SmartLink, a 10 gigabit-per-second (Gbps)
patent-protected media converter solution that uses fiber optics to extend the
current copper socket throughout the data center or central office to up to
300 meters. EMCORE's SmartLink technology is socket compatible with existing
copper cable interfaces and enables field flexibility to data center operators
regarding copper or optical solutions.
Designed for rack-to-rack applications of one to 300 meters, EMCORE's
SmartLink uses the same electrical socket employed by copper cables, such as
MicroGigaCN for Infiniband. The SmartLink enables the data center operator to
convert a copper socket into an extended optical link at anytime in the field.
This latest innovation from EMCORE is capable of carrying an aggregate of 10
Gbps by adding four lanes of 3.125 Gbps, for bi-directional communication over
one 12-fiber ribbon cable. It requires a single 3.3 Volt power supply and
consumes less than 1 Watt of total power.
"Right now, there are definite signs that 10G Ethernet is finally picking
up
but interface costs are still going to be an issue," said Karen Liu, managing
director of RHK Inc. "We know based on the migration to 1G Ethernet that
customers more readily migrate to the higher speed if they can buy the
high-speed box without committing up front to medium and longer reach
interfaces except in those instances when they need them. Despite what people
thought a few years ago, we also know that copper is going to be part of the
picture even at 10G. So, solutions that bridge the gap between copper and
optical are going to be key to widespread 10G Ethernet."
"The SmartLink product is the ideal low-cost 10Gbps optical Infiniband link
for those customers demanding the greater distances offered by fiber, but
wanting to preserve maximum flexibility," said Kevin Deierling, vice president
of product marketing at Mellanox Technologies. "In many High Performance
Computing, data center, and storage applications fiber solutions are
attractive and the SmartLink solution allows customers to deploy fiber as
needed, at an attractive price point."
"Although most interconnects used in today's data center are inexpensive
CAT5
cable, this solution quickly becomes unusable for data rates above 1 Gbps.
When addressing this problem in the past, data center operators have had to
rely on bulky, costly, Infiniband copper cable and 10GBase-CX4 copper cable.
Today, however, EMCORE is able to offer a plug-and-play optical replacement
that provides better performance, lighter weight and extended reach, without
cross talk," said Al Yuen, vice president of sales and marketing for EMCORE
Fiber optics. "In addition, our new SmartLink technology hits a price point
for 10 Gbps fiber optics that no other competing technology, such as Serial
850 nanometer XPAK or XENPAK, has been able to match."
EMCORE's SmartLink is available immediately in both connector and cable
versions.
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