Foundry Networks unveils modular media interfaces to accelerate adoption of Gigabit and 10-Gigabit Ethernet
December 8, 2004 San Jose, CA -- Foundry Network Inc. today announced that it has expanded its portfolio of modular Gigabit and 10-Gigabit Ethernet (10-GbE) optical interfaces to enable the next generation of business and broadband service applications, which are increasingly delivered based on high-speed converged Gigabit and 10-GbE networks.
The new modular media interfaces include the recently ratified Ethernet-in-the-First-Mile (802.3AH EFM) standard, which defines an efficient Ethernet access technology for delivering data, voice, and video applications to business and residential users; and a 10-GbE interface standard (10Gbase-ZR/10Gbase-ZRD), which enables 10-GbE connectivity of up to 80 km.
Combined with the three transceivers announced last month, the new modular media transceivers give Foundry what it claims is the most diverse and cost-effective portfolio on the market, allowing customers ultimate flexibility and choice in their deployments.
In November 2004, Foundry announced a modular 10-GbE WAN PHY optical transceiver (10Gbase-LW), which enables seamless connectivity between 10-GbE and a DWDM or SONET/SDH wide area network infrastructure, a 10-GbE modular 10Gbase-LX4 optical transceiver for legacy FDDI grade cable, and a 10-GbE 10GBase-CX4 copper transceiver for short distance data center applications.
"These new media interfaces allow our customers to deploy business applications which were not possible before, and further accelerate the adoption of Ethernet as the convergence technology of choice," contends Ken Cheng, vice president and general manager of Foundry's Layer 2/3 Switching & Routing Solutions Business Unit.
Ethernet-in-the-First-Mile (802.3AH EFM) Modular GbE Optical Interface:
EFM offers a future-proof first-mile transport for data, voice, and video to both business and residential users. By integrating the optical combiner and splitter into the SFP transceiver, a single strand of fiber can transmit bi-directionally. These devices work in a pair, with an upstream device and a downstream device connected at each end of the fiber. With EFM modular optical transceivers, Foundry Networks offers a range of switching and routing solutions, which enable broadband service providers to cut fiber requirements and reduce the costs associated with delivering broadband services to residential and business subscribers.
10Gbase-ZR/10Gbase-ZRD DWDM Modular 10-GbE Optical Interface
This family of XENPAK modular optical transceivers includes multiple versions corresponding to the DWDM ITU grid with 100-GHz spacing. These transceivers can transmit optical signals up to 80 km, allowing for direct connection to passive DWDM combiners. With the 10Gbase-ZR/10Gbase-ZRD transceivers, FoundryIwill enable a variety of applications, including Metro POP and enterprise campus connectivity without the need for optical repeaters and DWDM equipment.
10Gbase-LW WAN PHY Modular 10-GbE Optical Interface:
Foundry's 10GBASE-LW optical transceiver for Global WAN Transport (WAN PHY) offers a compelling alternative to SONET/SDH OC192 infrastructure because it delivers 10-GbEIbandwidth at a fraction of the cost--with higher performance and Ethernet's improved operational simplicity, say company representatives. With the WAN PHY modular optical transceiver, Ethernet frames are encapsulated in SONET frames at OC-192 rates (1310-nm SMF for 10-kmIdistances), making the transceiver an excellent solution for connecting to DWDM devices and for carrying native 10-GbE over existing OC-192c networks.
10Gbase-LX4I10-GbE Optical Interface:
The 10Gbase-SX and LX standard require the use of high performance multimode fiber. The majority of multimode fiber installed today is five- to ten-year old FDDI-grade cabling. The 10Gbase-LX4 technology sends and receives data as four WDM signals on the MMF and SMF fiber. These signals are sent at 1/4 the speed of 10Gbase-SX required for FDDI-grade cable. Foundry contends its 10GBASE-LX4 XENPAK optical transceiver will enable 10-GbE applications using legacy physical fiber plants (330m over FDDI-grade MMF, orI10km over SMF).
10Gbase-CX4 10-GbE Copper Interface: U
In data center and high-performance computing applications such as inter-switch links or server-to-switch links, the use of high performance 10-GbE fiber transceivers is overkill and an unneeded cost, say Foundry representatives. The 10Gbase-CX4 XENPAK transceiver allows for the transmission of 10-GbE over copper cabling for distances of up to 15m, thereby lowering the media cost without impacting performance.