Arista confirms ‘400G ZR’ optical transceiver interoperability with Microsoft
Arista Networks (NYSE:ANET) says it has successfully demonstrated interoperability among what it termed “400G ZR” optical transceivers from multiple vendors (and which a source at Arista later confirmed means 400ZR). The demonstration, conducted over Microsoft’s 120-km open line system testbed, is an important step toward deployment of the QSFP-DD modules in data center interconnect (DCI) applications, according to the company.
Arista notes that DCI routers with enhanced thermal management will need to accommodate such 400G modules from multiple sources to create the multivendor environments that network operators increasingly prefer. Thus, the demonstration leveraged Arista’s 7800R3 routing platforms in Microsoft’s transmission testing lab. The tests “confirmed excellent optical and thermal performance over a variety of 400G ZR vendors,” according to Arista.
"We are very pleased with the demonstrated performance of the 400G ZR transceiver modules,” commented Hacene Chaouch, distinguished engineer at Arista. “Being able to seamlessly support modules from multiple 400G ZR vendors on our standard routing platforms constitutes a significant advancement in the DCI space."
“We are pleased with the progress on 400G ZR,” added Jamie Gaudette, principal engineering manager of Microsoft’s Backbone Network. “Thanks to our collaboration with OIF, we’ve achieved multi-vendor interoperation and cost effective 400G transport, allowing Microsoft to offer more bandwidth to our customers and accelerate our data center expansion.”
[Note: This article was amended with the confirmation that the transceivers were 400ZR devices. A paragraph speculating that "400G ZR" could imply the devices were designed for performance beyond 400ZR specifications was deleted.]
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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.
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