AUGUST 13, 2008 -- MRV Communications Inc. (search for MRV) today announced the latest member of its family of test automation products (TAP) for automating network equipment test environments, the Optical Cross Connect 320 (OCC 320) high data rate, all-optical, physical layer switch.
The 320-port, singlemode fiber-based OCC offers high-bandwidth network equipment manufacturers, carriers, and enterprises an optimized, all-optical test lab option able to support next-generation data rates to 100 Gbits/sec, say company representatives.
The "wire-once" technology of a physical layer switch turns the practice of manually configuring test topologies into a software process, eliminating the step of cabling devices for each test. Dynamic tests can be performed with the addition of test scripts or other software automation products that also provide reservation and inventory capabilities. Wire-once architecture not only speeds up test time, it minimizes retesting due to configuration or contamination errors caused by manual configuration of topologies.
"The industry buzz is that 40-Gbit/sec and 100-Gbit/sec protocols are technologies of the future, but the truth is that many of our customers are testing them today," reports Noam Lotan, president and CEO of MRV Communications. "Launching the OCC 320 not only expands our test automation product family so that we can offer a full line of wire-once solutions, but it helps our customers bring these future technologies to market more quickly."
The OCC 320 is based on a three-dimensional Micro-electromechanical Systems (3D-MEMS) switching matrix that allows transparent switching of singlemode fiber connections in less than 20 m/sec with a typical insertion loss of 2.0 dB, claims MRV. This technology makes the OCC 320 ideal for maintaining optical attributes when testing high data rate LAN-, WAN-, or WDM-based equipment.
"With major industry players growing their carrier businesses to meet rising bandwidth requirements, it is imperative that test labs be able to evaluate equipment at the highest possible data rate," notes Sterling Perrin, senior analyst for Heavy Reading. "In addition to testing maximum bandwidth, labs need to be able to test numerous devices in rapid succession, which plays to the unique architecture of this optical cross-connect product and the wear and tear saved from only wiring the system once."
The OCC supports 640 fiber terminations via 320x320 switching matrix and can be expanded in steps of eight bi-directional ports. MRV says the device boasts a nearly 12-year mean time between failure on any of its optical data paths through use of a redundant configuration processors with independent control and data buses.
The OCC 320 is immediately available.
Visit MRV Communications