Exar intros aggregation reference design platform for T1/E1 over SONET/SDH

JULY 25, 2007 -- Exar Corp. (search for Exar) has developed a modular reference design platform called Orion that it says delivers T1/E1 to SONET/SDH data transmission capabilities for metropolitan access networks. Encompassing several existing Exar devices, the platform can support up to 84 T1s or 63 E1s aggregated into OC-3/STM-1. It is optimized for applications such as add/drop multiplexers, multi-service provisioning platforms, optical and wireless transport, and routers.

"Cost and board space issues are holding back network equipment vendors from T1/E1 aggregation over SONET/SDH deployments; Exar's modular platform � Orion -- was developed to eliminate these issues," said John Demiray, director T/E carrier and SONET/SDH products. "By leveraging the extraordinary capabilities of our high-density silicon solutions, OEMs can accelerate time-to-market implementation of their systems for a wide variety of design requirements."

Orion is a modular shelf that consists of several Exar devices: the XRT86SH328 (Voyager), which integrates a 28-channel T1/E1 LIU/framer with VT/TU mapper and M13 multiplexer; the XRT86SH221 (Voyager-lite) which integrates a 21-channel E1 LIU/framer with VT/TU mapper; and the XRT91L30, Exar's single-channel OC-3/OC-12 transceiver.

The platform's system architecture is designed to enable the same shelf hardware to be used for either 84 T1s or 63 E1s aggregated into OC-3/STM-1 by interchanging the module that consists of three XRT86SH328s or three XRT86SH221s. Exar says the design platform offers an unmatched high-density platform that converts T/E channels into VT1.5 or VT2 tributaries and directly maps them into the SONET/SDH STS-3/STM-1 data rate. The design uses a common telecom bus operating at 19.44 MHz. For optical transmission, the STS-3/STM-1 telecom bus interface is coupled with Exar's XRT91L30 OC-12/OC-3 transceiver and an optical module.

When the XRT86SH328 or XRT86SH221 is combined with Exar's other SONET/SDH devices into a multi-chip design, they deliver a wide range of design options for add/drop multiplexer and T1/E1 aggregation systems. In an add/drop multiplexer application, systems using the Exar devices can support a four-chip design for up to 84 T1s or 63 E1s aggregated into OC-3/STM-1.

In addition to the shelf hardware, the reference design platform also includes hardware schematics, PCB layout guidelines, user guide, GUI, and software API documents. The device drivers and GUI required to support the Orion system on specific network configurations can be customized for specific customer applications.

The Orion platform is now available for demonstration.

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