Ample, Big Bear unveil Layer 1 and 2 platform for 40G networks
April 27, 2005 Fremont, CA -- Ample Communications and Big Bear Networks have introduced what they call a complete layer 1 and layer 2 platform for vendors of 40-Gbit/sec network systems. The platform consists of Ample's Blackbird 40-Gbit/sec frame processor and Big Bear's Kodiak 40-Gbit/sec transponder.
"Combined with Big Bear, we offer the only commercially available solution that allows customers to develop a complete switching and routing solution using existing off the shelf components - from fiber to packet processing," contends Marek Tlalka, vice president of marketing for Ample Communications.
Ample says its Blackbird device is a 40-Gbit/sec SONET/SDH POS frame processor designed for data interfaces on switches and routers. The company says the product combines multiple functional blocks including framer, overhead processor, pointer processor, and data link logic into a single silicon device designed for 40-Gbit/sec interfaces. According to the company, its IQ technology allows the device to bridge the gap between 10-Gbit/sec network processors and OC-768c frames, and includes capability to create an OC-768c/STM-256c stream from four independent 10-Gbit/sec network processors.
Big Bear says its Kodiak 40-Gbit/sec transponder is an MSA-standard, 300-pin module supporting OC-768 SONET and STM-256 SDH transport, as well as 43-Gbit/sec OTU-3 digital wrapper applications. According to the company, the transponder incorporates several proprietary Silicon Germanium (SiGe) chipsets, including a full CMU/Mux and CDR/Demux, which contributes to transponder's performance and reliability. The transponder complies with the 40-Gbit/sec MSA, OIF SFI-5 / SxI-5, and ITU G.693 specifications.
"The combination of our Kodiak transponder and the Ample Blackbird frame processor enables customers to focus on the system-level design without concern for device-level connectivity and interoperability issues," concludes John Trail, director of product management for Big Bear.
Interoperability testing for both products is complete.