ADVA Optical Networking provides 10G Fibre Channel link between Stuttgart and Hohenheim Universities

DECEMBER 5, 2006 -- ADVA Optical Networking (search for ADVA Optical Networking) today announced that its Fiber Service Platform (FSP) 2000 DWDM transport system has been successfully deployed in a field demonstration for the transmission of 10-Gbit/sec Fibre Channel (10G-FC) signals between the German universities of Stuttgart and Hohenheim.

The field demonstration involved 10G-FC DWDM transmission using the FSP 2000 on a link between the High Performance Computing Center Stuttgart (HLRS), University of Stuttgart, and the University of Hohenheim in southwest Germany. Throughout the course of the testing, speeds of more than 10.1 Gbits/sec were achieved. The multi-layer system was connected in part using 4G-FC local interfaces, which deliver 100% more bandwidth than 2-Gbit/sec links, but at only 10 to 20% higher cost, say ADVA representatives.

Both 4- and 10-Gbit/sec systems enable higher bandwidth levels with the potential to lower operating expense and are critical for enterprises launching newer, bandwidth-intensive applications utilizing graphics and video.

ADVA Optical Networking says its WDM systems can support up to 80 channels that are ready for 10G-FC or other high-speed protocols. With WDM, customers can connect any storage area network (SAN) fabric or high-performance computer over high-bandwidth metro and regional transparent optical networks. This enables applications such as grid computing, server and storage consolidation, disaster recovery, and business continuity. These applications allow universities and enterprises to deliver leading-edge data center performance, increased security, and reduced costs, says the company.

"We are connecting high-performance computing clusters over longer distances, enabling collaboration with other universities and us to build a flexible, scalable internal network for storage and other critical applications," explains Peter Haas, director of data and network management at HLRS. "We are now sharing scientific research and data around the world and have established grid computing architectures that allow us to share processing power across disparate sites for high-capacity scientific applications in a virtual setting. This network capability would not be possible without WDM as the foundation."

ADVA Optical Networking says it has supported the Universities of Stuttgart and Hohenheim since 2001 with an FSP 2000 link operating at 2.5Gbit/s. In 2004, ADVA Optical Networking demonstrated upgradeability of this link to 10 Gigabit Ethernet. Now, with this latest 10G-FC demonstration, ADVA Optical Networking claims it has again showed its commitment to providing leading-edge functionality and interoperability for scientific, educational, and enterprise customers.

"With a WDM-enabled optical network now in place, these universities have a powerful tool for management of current resources and can plan for growth into the future," contends Dieter Will, vice president of business management enterprise for ADVA Optical Networking. "The drivers for high-performance WDM-based optical networks will not slow. The ability to simultaneously drive down costs and drastically improve performance with innovative optical transport technologies is exciting for organizations with growing storage and communications needs," he says.

The ADVA Fiber Service Platform is a portfolio of Optical+Ethernet networking products designed specifically for the delivery of high-speed services and network infrastructure rollout. Its modular design and flexible architecture options enable the most comprehensive and cost-effective systems for customer premises, access, metro core and regional deployment, says the company.

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