Civcom introduces multi-rate tunable optical transceiver for SAN applications

The new transmitter/receiver supports 1Gbps to 10Gbps rates, enabling use of the same line card as network capacity grows and reducing client TCO.

The MLR transceiver is a small-size, long-reach, tunable module well suited for SAN applications. Channel capacity upgrades on SAN systems traditionally required the replacement of the line card array on both transmitter and receiver ends. With the new module, Civcom offers the flexibility of using the same card as system capacity is upgraded, saving additional lifecycle investments, reveals a representative.

“With the new module, Civcom uses its expertise in highly tunable DWDM components to offer the flexibility required for operators supporting the rapidly growing SAN market,” says Yair Itzhar, vice president of worldwide sales and marketing at Civcom.

With the new product, system vendors and line card manufacturers can offer their customers:

The MLR interface is compatible with the300-pin MSA and I²C interface and uses a widely tunable laser to cover the entire C-Band. It uses a Negative or zero- chirp Mach Zehnder indium phosphate modulator to enable high performance under OSNR load across the entire C-Band and over long distances. A configurable CDR is used to tune the transceiver between data rates of 1.06, 1.25, 2.12, 4.25, 8.5, 10.3, and 10.5Gbps through standard I²C commands.

Civcom will present the new module in OFC/NFOEC 2011, March 8 through 10, 2011 in Los Angeles, Booth #2112.