big data
& IoT
The 10km two-fibre
singlemode 200Gb/s (200GBASE-
LR4) and 400Gb/s (400GBASE-
LR8) Ethernet implementations
will utilise next generation WDM
techniques to allow deployment
over the installed base of
two-fibre singlemode optical
fibre cabling, which currently
supports applications such as
40GBASELR4 and 100GBASE-
LR4. In another first, the IEEE
P802.3bs Task Force will also
be developing 200Gb/s and
400Gb/s Ethernet equipment
technology (200GBASE-FR4 and
400GBASE-FR8, respectively)
for operation over up to 2km of
singlemode optical fibre cabling.
This addition to the solution set
will offer customers another cost
optimised high speed 200Gb/s
and 400Gb/s option to support
mid-reach transmission distances
of between 500m and 10km. The
‘There will be
200Gb/s and
faster speed
backbone
cabling
network
options
available
for everyone
very soon.’
preferred equipment connection
for the new two-fibre 200Gb/s
and 400Gb/s applications is the
LC interface.
Accidental mating
Note that a new interface, called
an MPO-16 plug and receptacle,
will be required to support
the 32-fibre 400GBASESR16
multimode application. The
MPO-16 plug is similar to an MPO
plug except that it supports four
additional fibres per row. It is
designed with an offset key to
prevent accidental mating with a
standard MPO/MTP receptacle.
It remains to be seen whether
widescale adoption of this
interface will occur or if emerging
products, such as TIA-492AAAE
wideband OM4 characterised for
support of wavelength division
multiplexing, and technology, such
as 100Gb/s serial transmission,
will lead future high speed optical
fibre applications development
down a different path.
When the initial objectives
for this project were developed,
IEEE P802.3bs 200Gb/s and
400Gb/s Ethernet Task Force
participants took great care to
understand the specific needs of
every type, size, and style of data
centre. In particular, the ability of
data centres to keep up with the
intense demands of the emerging
IoT landscape, including the
associated rapid increase in
device generated and Big Data,
with greater than 100Gb/s
solutions is more critical than
ever. With reach ranges falling
at 100m, 500m, 2km, and 10km,
there truly will be 200Gb/s and
faster speed backbone cabling
network options available for
everyone very soon.
Next Time…
virtualisation & cloud computing
As well as its regular range of features and news items, the April issue of Data Centre News
will contain major features on virtualisation and cloud computing.
To make sure you don’t miss the opportunity to advertise your
products to this exclusive readership, call Francesca on 01634 673163
or email [email protected].
28 | June 2017
data centre news