英特尔等巨头推动光学网络新标准制定

在近日于美国旧金山举行的光纤通讯大会(OFC Conference)上，包括英特尔(Intel)、Mellanox与Vello Systems等厂商都参与了光学网络新标准的订定，其目标是让透过因特网数据中心以及营运商网络各节点的巨量数据流能顺畅传递。 英特尔最近发表了 MXC 光学连接器接口，表示未来支持该接口的产品将由康宁(Corning)、US Conec、TE Connectivity与 Molex等公司供应；MXC接口的数据传输速率可达1.6 Tbit/s，采用64个速率各为25 Gbit/s的光纤信道，传输距离可达300公尺。 在英特尔方面，该公司打算在数据中心机架与交换器内的硅光子(silicon photonics)产品采用MXC接口；康宁则已经推出 MXC 缆线组件的样品，预计今年秋天开始量产；TE Connectivity 与Molex也将生产销售MXC零组件。 而US Conec则是MXC技术的关键供货商，该公司将销售MXC组件给康宁等其他公司，并提供该接口技术的认证服务。有一位微软(Microsfot)数据中心的主管已经表示将支持 MXC。 英特尔在去年9月展示了MXC缆线以及其硅光子组件在提升带宽、降低数据中心成本等方面的优势；该公司硅光子技术领导研究员Mario Paniccia表示，MXC是：“光通讯的核心功能区块，将协助定义未来的数据中心架构。” 此 外新创公司Ranovus以及网络布建方案供货商Mellanox，针对传输距离达2公里的100 Gbit/s分波多任务(wavelength-division multiplexing，WDM)互连发表多来源协议(multi-source agreement，MSA)，该OpenOptics MSA能采用QSFP-28封装的1,550nm波长光学组件、WDM雷射或是硅光子组件。 OpenOptics MSA透过一对单模光纤支持4个25 Gbit/s WDM连结，可升级到400 Gbit/s以上；据Ranovus的营销/业务长Saeid Aramideh在一份新闻稿中指出，该互连技术与旧有的多模光纤布建方案比较，能将数据中心的光纤成本降低四至七倍。 另一 家Vello Systems则是透过成立产业组织Open Source Optical (OSO) Forum，期望能为光学网络技术提升贡献心力；该组织支持OpenFlow 1.4软件定义网络标准的开放源码软件，目前成员包括Accelink、Coadna、CrossFiber、O-Net、PacketLight与 Pacnet。 该组织的部分成员一开始将把OSO软件移植到现有的光学通讯系统中，以兼容于OpenFlow标准的控制器与 应用程序；其他成员则可能会以OpenFlow标准打造下一代的光学网络系统。对此负责订定OpenFlow标准的开放网络基金会(Open Networking Foundation)执行总监Dan Pitt表示：“我们期待能与OSO社群进行合作，了解其需求并提供解决方案。” 市场研究机构Ovum的分析师Ron Kline表示，在开放源码领域的各种活动有可能会大幅改变数据中心互连领域的生态，催生各种网络营运商所需求的低成本、白牌光学互连解决方案。 在 今年OFC期间发表的其他研发成果，包括Finisar 展示其CFP4 规格互连方案；CFP4采用4个25 Gbit/s链接信道为光学通讯系统提供100 Gbit/s链接，在OFC发表了一篇白皮书介绍CPF4的Finisar技术专家Chris Cole表示，今年的光纤通讯大会标志着该规格的隆重登场。 本文授权编译自EE Times，版权所有，谢绝转载 编译：Judith Cheng 参考英文原文：Intel, Mellanox, Vello Ride Optics，by Rick Merritt

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{pagination} Intel, Mellanox, Vello Ride Optics Rick Merritt SAN JOSE, Calif. — Intel, Mellanox, and Vello Systems are among the latest companies announcing new standards efforts for optical networking at the OFC Conference this week. They aim to smooth the flow of a rising tide of data at various points through Internet datacenters and carrier networks. Intel announced MXC optical connector products will be available from companies including Corning, US Conec, TE Connectivity, and Molex. MXC can transmit data at 1.6 Tbit/s using 64 fibers at 25 Gbit/s at distances up to 300 meters. For its part, Intel plans to use MXC for silicon photonics products inside datacenter racks and switches. Corning is sampling MXC cable assemblies that will be in production in the fall. TE Connectivity and Molex also will build and sell MXC assemblies. US Conec, the key MXC technology provider, will sell MXC parts to Corning and others and provide a certification program for the link. A Microsoft datacenter manager expressed support for MXC. In September, Intel demonstrated MXC cables and its silicon photonics boosting bandwidth and lowering cost in a rack of computers. Mario Paniccia, Intel's leading researcher on silicon photonics, called MXC "a core building block for optical (or photonic) communications [that] will help define the way datacenters are built in the future." Separately, startup Ranovus Inc. and networking specialist Mellanox Technologies launched a multi-source agreement (MSA) for a 100 Gbit/s wavelength-division multiplexing interconnect supporting distances up to two kilometers. The OpenOptics MSA can use 1550 nm wavelength optics, WDM lasers, and silicon photonics in a QSFP-28 package. The link supports 4 x 25 Gbit/s WDM links over a single pair of singlemode fibers and can scale to 400 Gbit/s and beyond. The interconnect can reducing the fiber costs in a datacenter "by four to seven times compared to legacy multimode fiber implementations," said Saeid Aramideh, chief marketing and sales officer for Ranovus, in a press statement. Taking a different approach to enhancing optical networks, Vello Systems announced the Open Source Optical Forum. The group supports open-source software for the OpenFlow 1.4 standard of software-defined networking. Current members of the group include Accelink, Coadna, CrossFiber, O-Net, PacketLight, and Pacnet. Initially, some members will port OSO software to their existing optical systems, making them compatible with OpenFlow controllers and applications. Other members may build next-generation optical systems based on OpenFlow. "We look forward to collaborating with the OSO community to understand their requirements and contribute solutions," said Dan Pitt, executive director of the Open Networking Foundation, which defines OpenFlow. The open-source effort "has the potential to radically change the datacenter interconnect market enabling low-cost, white box approaches to optical connectivity that operators ultimately crave," said Ron Kline, a principal analyst at market watcher Ovum, speaking in a press statement. Among other standards efforts at OFC, Finisar demonstrated components for the CFP4 interconnect. CFP4 uses 4 x 25 Gbit/s links to support 100 Gbit/s connections on optical systems. OFC marks "a big introduction for the form factor," said Finisar technologist Chris Cole, who wrote a whitepaper describing the link.