Foundry Networks and Spirent Communications use Picolight optics to prove 10 Gigabit Ethernet deployment
Foundry Networks Inc. (Nasdaq:FDRY), Spirent Communications and Picolight Inc. joined 15 network vendors in the 10 Gigabit Ethernet Alliance booth at NetWorld+Interop last week in a live network demonstration that supports the draft IEEE 802.3ae 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10 GbE) standard.
The Picolight Accelar 10 GbE optical modules interconnected Foundry's BigIron Layer 3 switches, which have 10 GBASE-LR and SR line cards, to a Spirent SmartBits 10 GbE network performance analysis system.
This demonstration highlighted the readiness of 10 GbE deployment, while proving the viability of extending Ethernet connectivity from the LAN all the way into metro and WAN.
The demonstration provided another major milestone in 10 GbE deployment by interconnecting a Picolight 10 Gigabit Attachment Unit Interface (XAUI) optical transceiver, and a 16-Bit Interface (XSBI) module for 10 GbE and OC-192 very short reach (VSR) applications. The ability to achieve interoperability between these XSBI and XAUI architectures was another industry first.
"This was an important 10 Gigabit Ethernet technology demonstration with Picolight and Spirent," said Ken Cheng, vice president of product marketing for Foundry Networks. "Not only did we demonstrate full interoperability between Foundry's high performance switch and Spirent's network performance analysis 10 GbE test module over an optical link enabled by Picolight's 850nm transceivers, but we did so at close to line rate, continuously throughout the show, over a 300-meter link."
In May, Picolight announced the availability of a shortwave serial XSBI transponder, based on the 300-pin MSA footprint. In August, the company also announced availability of a standards-endorsed serial-to-XAUI optical transceiver (XG300).
About Picolight:
Picolight is a venture-backed company that designs and manufactures high-speed optoelectronic components and subsystems for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of networking equipment. For more information, visit www.picolight.com.
About Foundry Networks:
Foundry Networks provides solutions for end-to-end switching and routing including Internet routers, Layer 2/3 LAN switches, and Layer 4-7 Internet traffic and content delivery switches. For more information, visit www.foundrynetworks.com.
About Spirent Communications:
Spirent Communications provides solutions to enable customers to accelerate the development, deployment and assurance of next-generation network equipment and services. For more information, visit www.spirent.com.