Analog Devices' 4x Fibre Channel SFP Chipset Targets Fast Growing Storage Area Networks
Accompanying reference design meets industry's MSA specifications, enabling high-performance, cost-effective optical module solutions.
Norwood, MA -- Analog Devices Inc., a global leader
in high-performance semiconductors for signal-processing applications,
today announced the availability of a SFP (small form factor
pluggable) optical transceiver chipset and reference design that
supports both gigabit Ethernet and Fibre Channel data rates up to 4.25
Gbps (gigabits per second) in SAN (storage area network) equipment.
According to market research firm IDC (International Data
Corporation), Fibre Channel switch port shipments are expected to grow
annually by an average of 40 percent through 2008. Optical
transceivers that connect to Fibre Channel switches at 4.25 Gbps will
be key components in this market, enabling developers of SAN equipment
to double the existing data rate, while remaining compatible with
older modules running at 1 Gbps and 2 Gbps data rates.
"Analog Devices' 4x Fibre Channel transceiver chipset and reference design offers optical transceiver designers a turnkey solution with best-in-class performance for power, sensitivity and eye quality," said Peter Real, product line director for Analog Devices' High-Speed Networking Group." By making both the SFP Fibre Channel chipset and reference design available at the same time, Analog Devices is enabling optical transceiver manufacturers to reduce the time it takes to bring their SAN products to market."
About the 1x/2x/4x Fibre Channel SFP Chipset
The high-performance 1x/2x/4x SFP chipset meets the requirements
of the Fibre Channel MSA (Multisource Agreement) specifications and is
optimized for SFF-8472 digital diagnostics. The existence of an MSA
standardizes modules, offering the market significant time and cost
savings over custom modules. The SFP chipset includes four Analog
Devices' products designed to work seamlessly together:
- On the receive chain, the ADN2882, a 4.25 Gbps TIA (transimpedance amplifier), has a sensitivity of -22 dBm, while dissipating only 75 mW of power.
- The ADN2892, a 4.25 Gbps limiting amplifier, features
selectable bandwidth for operation at the 1x and 2x Fibre
Channel rates (1.063 Gbps and 2.125 Gbps) and the gigabit
Ethernet rate (1.25 Gbps) ensuring backwards compatibility to
1x and 2x Fibre Channel modules, while dissipating 160 mW of
power.
- On the transmit side, Analog Devices offers a choice of laser
diode drivers. The ADN2871 single-loop LDD supports VCSEL
(vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser) DFB (distributed
feedback) and FP (Fabry-Perot) lasers, and provides over 45
percent eye margin to the 4x Fibre Channel mask. The ADN2870
dual-loop laser diode driver automatically controls DFB and FP
lasers over temperature and compensates for laser aging, thus
reducing or eliminating the need for expensive temperature
calibration.
- Use of Analog Device's ADuC7020 precision microcontroller allows the module function to be set in software or control more complicated and higher performance modules. On a single-chip, the microcontroller integrates a powerful 32-bit RISC core with precision data conversion technology that supports up to 16 channels of fast, 12-bit analog-to-digital conversion and up to four 12-bit digital-to-analog converters.
The 1x/2x/4x multi-rate reference design includes an SFP board and the optics to enable immediate evaluation, speed time to market and reduce development costs. In addition, the reference design includes a host board, I(2)C support, Gerber files, object and source code for the microcontroller, a graphical user interface and technical documentation.
Analog Devices in Optical Networking
Analog Devices applies its leading analog, mixed-signal and
digital signal processing technologies to next-generation optical
networking solutions, with a particular focus on the design challenges
associated with electro-optical interfaces and the monitoring and
control of optical network components.
About Analog Devices
Innovation, performance, and excellence are the cultural pillars
on which Analog Devices has built one of the most long-standing,
high-growth companies within the technology sector. Acknowledged
industry-wide as the world leader in data conversion and signal
conditioning technology, Analog Devices serves over 60,000 customers
around the world, representing virtually all types of electronics
equipment. Celebrating 40 years as a leading global manufacturer of
high-performance integrated circuits used in analog and digital signal
processing applications, Analog Devices, Inc. is headquartered in
Norwood, Massachusetts, and employs approximately 8,900 people
worldwide. It has manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts,
California, North Carolina, Ireland, and the Philippines. Analog
Devices' common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and ADI
is included in the S&P 500 Index. www.analog.com
Source: Analog Devices