OIF survey targets Common Management Interface Specification optical module management interface input

July 2, 2020
The results will be used to help OIF plan future work on Implementation Agreements in this area.

OIF has opened a survey that seeks industry input on its Common Management Interface Specification and optical module management interfaces in general. The results will be used to help OIF plan future work on Implementation Agreements in this area.

The industry group sees optical module management interfaces as encompassing physical interfaces, communication protocols and management applications layers. OIF released its Coherent Common Management Interface Specification (C-CMIS) Implementation Agreement, aimed at modules such as those based on 400ZR, this past March. The specifications followed on from the previous CMIS (QSFP-DD/OSFP/COBO) management specification.

OIF now wants input on where it should turn next. “The OIF 400ZR specification covers interoperability on the network fiber and also at the host by defining the electrical interface and software management interface,” said Jeffery J. Maki, distinguished engineer II, Juniper Networks and OIF Physical Layer User Group Working Group Chair. “All of this is done to drive a true multi-sourcing opportunity for the module. Beyond 400ZR, support of the software management interface is an area OIF would like to continue to address and seeks, through the use of a survey, to gauge industry interest and the potential solution approach.”

OIF invites stakeholders from module vendors, system vendors, and network operators to participate in the survey. There are no limits on how many people per company can take the survey. OIF will collate the survey responses anonymously; a dedicated survey evaluation team will then review them. The deadline to participate is midnight PDT on July 21, 2020. OIF plans a webinar to review the survey results on July 30, 2020 at 7 AM PDT.

Information about the survey, the webinar, and other aspects of the initiative are available on the OIF’s survey webpage.

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About the Author

Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave

Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.

Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.

He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.

You can connect with Stephen on LinkedIn as well as Twitter.

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