NOVEMBER 19, 2008 -- MRV Communications Inc. (search for MRV) today announced a new Media Cross Connect (MCC) physical layer chassis and interface blade for high-density 8-Gbit/sec Fibre Channel test lab automation applications.
The high-speed chassis features an 8.5-Gbit/sec backplane for 8-Gbit/sec Fibre Channel applications as well as other emerging, high-speed protocols. The new interface blade will use SFP+ technology to provide high-density 8-Gbit Fibre Channel support. The chassis also supports all existing MCC interface blades, ranging from T1/E1 copper to 10 Gbit/sec fiber protocols. MRV is also planning an 8-Gbit/sec SFP+ interface blade for use in its existing MCC chassis to allow its embedded base of users to test high-speed storage networks.
According to MRV, its MCC family is the missing link in complete test lab automation, offering the ability to implement "wire-once" technology in the test lab environment to manage all tests and test configurations dynamically through software. This automation saves operational as well as capital expenses by allowing equipment to be shared throughout the lab and eliminating the need to manually reconfigure physical connections.
The support for 8-Gbit/sec Fibre Channel makes the MCC product family the most complete offering for the storage equipment manufacturing industry, claim MRV representatives. Earlier this year, MRV announced the SAS/SATA SFP for its interface blades, adding to its existing support of 2-/4-Gbit Fibre Channel and Fibre Channel Over Ethernet (FCoE).
"It is always a challenge for storage equipment manufacturers and systems providers to expand and evolve their products to keep pace with technology," notes Noam Lotan, president and CEO of MRV Communications. "At MRV, we not only want to provide support for the latest technology, we strive to protect the investment of our customer's installed base. With the current financial atmosphere, we cannot expect customers to throw away the old and replace it with new," he says.
The MCC product roadmap allows budget dollars to be spent on implementing lab automation in new areas of the organization, saving additional capital and operational expenses, as opposed to being used to replace existing systems.
"With the advent of blade servers and other compact computing form factors, boosting the performance and density of the MCC is an important move by MRV because it makes it easier for manufacturers to scale their test systems to match real network conditions," adds Nariman Teymourian, chairman and CEO of Gale Technologies. Gale Technologies, formed by the merger of EdenTree Technologies and QuikCycle, is a lab and test management software provider and reseller of MRV's MCC products to dynamically automate and manage all steps in the network testing lifecycle.
The new systems will be shipped before the end of the year, followed by the debut of the 8-Gbit/sec SFP+ module for existing systems in early 2009.
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