Optical transport platform developer XKL LLC has unveiled the DarkStar Mux/Demux - Amplifier (DMD-A) optical utility appliance, which the company says network managers can use to improve the flexibility and manageability of their fiber-optic networks. The compact appliance can improve the operation of networks based on the company's Dark Star platforms as well as those of other vendors that leverage the standard ITU grid, XKL says.
The DMD-A supports several filter options, including 48-channel or 96-channel mux/demux and four-band or six-band combiner filter, for either point-to-point or east/west configurations. It also supports up to four EDFAs and one Raman amplifier, depending on other installed options. The DMD-A includes dispersion compensation and an integrated optical switch for path protection as well.
The appliance comes in either a 1RU or 2RU form factor. It is designed to be easy to install, with a simple interface for deployment and management that enables "set and forget" administration. It also offers reduced power consumption and is designed to maximize total cost of ownership savings, XKL adds.
"What truly makes the DMD-A stand out is its bulletproof design and operational efficiency," comments Dr. Chad Lamb, chief systems architect for XKL. "With more than seven years in continuous service, XKL considers downtime of critical infrastructure unacceptable and designs products accordingly. The DMD-A is a simple-to-operate platform that provides all the capabilities needed by today's more complex optical networks. As our customers tell us, 'it just works'."
The DMD-A is the latest in a line of Dark Star appliances (see "XKL touts DarkStar DWDM appliance success").
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