Ample Communications' 40 Gbits/sec frame processor enables SONET OC-768 interfaces on routers and switches

Ample Communications, a manufacturer of frame processing silicon solutions for high-speed network systems, announced its Blackbird Frame Processor, touted as the industry's first 40 Gbits/sec framing and mapping solution for data applications. The Blackbird device integrates multiple physical and data link functions on one chip, and is the first merchant silicon to enable the development of switching and routing systems that support STS-768c SONET and STM-256c SDH interfaces.

The Blackbird Frame Processor is capable of high-density, multi-port OC-192 (10 Gbits/sec) applications. Using the same silicon chip, system developers can migrate to OC-48 (40 Gbits/sec) applications simply by upgrading a line card from a 10 Gbits/sec optical module to a next-generation 40 Gbits/sec module.

This ease of migration maximizes the return on investment that system developers and service providers have already made in existing equipment.

The latest addition to the Ample Communications portfolio of frame
processors, Blackbird integrates four 10 Gbits/sec and one 40 Gbits/sec framing, mapping and data link logic components into a single device. The Blackbird device takes up one-fourth the footprint and consumes one-fourth the power of competing four-port 10 Gbits/sec solutions.

The Blackbird Frame Processor is targeted for 10 and 40 Gbits/sec interfaces on gigabit and terabit routers, multi-service switches, aggregation routers, and test equipment. In addition, Blackbird-enabled line cards will be used in very short reach (VSR) interconnect applications where a serial interconnect is preferred over hard-to-route fiber-ribbon cable.

The Blackbird device includes an STS-768 framer, four STS-192 framers, and performs full SONET/SDH line terminating functions including section, line and path termination and SONET overhead processing. The device also includes on-chip HDLC/PPP data engines, providing a complete, single-chip solution for one-port 40 Gbits/sec and four-port 10 Gbits/sec interfaces on data routers and switches.

On the line side, the Blackbird device provides a SerDes Framer Interface
5 (SFI-5) to a 40 Gbits/sec optical module and four SFI-5s interfaces to 10 Gbits/sec optical modules. Support for SFI-5, the interface standard adopted by the
Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) for 40 Gbits/sec data applications, ensures compatibility with optical module solutions from leading vendors.

On the system side, the Blackbird device supports four System Packet
Interface Phase 4.2 (SPI-4.2) interfaces to four independent 10 Gbits/sec network processing units (NPUs). The device includes a specialized packet ordering logic that allows development of 40 Gbits/sec solutions by using four independent 10 Gbits/sec NPUs. This means all that is needed for a smooth transition from a four 10 Gbits/sec-port to a one 40 Gbits/sec-port solution is a simple change to the optical module.

The Blackbird device is packaged in a 45 x 45 mm flip-chip BGA. Ample
Communications will begin sampling to its development partners in Q4 2002 with general availability targeted for Q1 2003.

For more information about Ample Communications (Fremont, CA), check out the company's website at www.amplecomm.com.