Ciena Waveserver Data Center Interconnect Platform

Waveserver was designed and purpose-built to specifically address data center interconnect (DCI) challenges by integrating optical networking with a web-scale IT toolset. It leverages open application programming interfaces (APIs) for integration with existing software tools for automation. The platform also uses best-in-class optical technology to provide high-speed connectivity and massive capacity over any fiber type across metro, regional, and long-haul distances. Waveserver alleviates physical scalability problems by reducing footprint and energy consumption, which directly reduces ongoing operating costs. Industry-leading density is achieved through the integration of Ciena's WaveLogic optical chipset technologies. Instead of being 3 to 6 feet tall, Waveserver is only 1.75 inches tall, which is the height of a pizza box. Waveserver provides two wavelengths of 200 Gbps using 16QAM modulation. This equates to 400 Gbps of total wavelength capacity, which is 60% more per rack unit (RU) than available competitor's offerings.

Waveserver is open and highly programmable, so it can be plugged into back office tools (using YANG models as well as XML and JSON via REST). The Waveserver is also supported by the Emulation Cloud, an open application development environment designed to help customers and third-party developers create, test, and fine-tune customized applications.Judge's comment: "Thanks to the 16QAM modulation format, the Ciena Waveserver provides an impressive 25-Tbps of fiber capacity per rack."Click here to return to the 2016 Lightwave Innovation Reviews page.