March 7, 2003--Ample Communications has sampled its Blackbird Frame Processor, which it touts as the industry's first single-chip 40-Gbit/sec packet over SONET framer targeted for single-port STS-768/STM-256 and four-port STS-192/STM-64 SONET/SDH applications.
The Blackbird device combines multiple functional blocks including framer, overhead processor, pointer processor, and data link logic into a single, merchant silicon device designed for cost-effective deployment of multi-port 10-Gbit/sec and single 40-Gbit/sec interfaces on gigabit and terabit routers, multi-service switches, aggregation routers, and test equipment.
The line side of the Blackbird device is implemented using a 16-bit, 2.5-GHz SFI-5 interface and can be configured to connect to one OC-768 or four OC-192 optical modules. The system side is implemented using four standard SPI-4.2 interfaces to independent network processor units (NPUs).
The Blackbird includes specialized packet ordering logic that allows users to implement 40-Gbit/sec concatenated solutions by using a single Blackbird Frame Processor and four independent 10-Gbit/sec NPUs, facilitating a smooth migration from 10-Gbit/sec to 40-Gbit/sec line rates. This approach enables system developers to offer customers a built-in upgrade path from 10-Gbit/sec to 40-Gbit/sec by changing the optics on the line card itself.
The Blackbird Frame Processor is available for $2,700 per device in quantities of 1,000. It is packaged in a 45x45 mm flip-chip BGA package.