Keysight Technologies offers N4891A 400GBASE FEC-aware compliance test system

Oct. 24, 2019

The N4891A comprises the equally new A400GE-QDD 400GE multiport test system and company’s previously available M8040A BERT.

Stephen Hardy

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) now offers the N4891A 400GBASE Forward Error Correction (FEC)-aware compliance test system. The N4891A comprises the equally new A400GE-QDD 400GE multiport test system and company’s previously available M8040A BERT. The result is what Keysight calls the first FEC-aware compliance test platform for measurement of frame loss ratio in 400 Gigabit Ethernet links that use FEC.

The N4891A supplies one stressed lane and maintains the proper FEC striped test pattern data, without placing stress on the other lanes, says Keysight. The system characterizes and quantifies the actual bit error rate (BER) and FEC performance of silicon communication devices, the company asserts. The approach is based on IEEE 802.3 standard clauses 121,122,123, 124 (former 802.3bs) and 136, 137, and 138 (former 802.3cd).

The N4891A is designed to meet the challenges posed by 400 Gigabit Ethernet designs based on 56-Gbps electrical lane signaling rates, which increase the level of complexity in the development of stable port electronics in networking devices, says Keysight. The challenge lies in characterizing and quantifying the BER along with FEC performance of silicon devices, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), fiber and copper interconnects, optical transceivers, and port electronics of switches and routers.

“Keysight’s new test solution fills a gap in high-speed Ethernet testing by combining best-in-class technologies from analog and protocols,” said Jerry Pepper, Fellow, Keysight Technologies. “Until now, the industry had no way to verify FEC performance while simultaneously stressing one of the lanes according to the IEEE 802.3 recommendation. This innovation enables customers to enter systems testing with higher confidence and deliver their 400GE products to market faster.”

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About the Author

Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave

Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.

Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.

He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.

You can connect with Stephen on LinkedIn as well as Twitter.