The Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) announced today that it has launched a new project, the SFI-X, in support of the industry’s efforts to boost data rates to 100gbps.
An extension of the OIF SFI-4 specification for 10gbps interfaces, SFI-X will define a scalable interface from an optical module to a framer device for line rates from 40gbps to 100gpbs per second and greater.
The SFI-X project supports work by standards bodies like IEEE and ITU-T, and forums like ATIS and the Ethernet Alliance. The IEEE’s 802.3 Higher Speed Study Group, for example, in December 2006 voted to support development of 100gbps as the next speed for Ethernet.
“The OIF’s role is to perform a gap analysis of the missing elements required to bring 100G technology to market,” said OIF Vice President of Market Steve Joiner, who also is director of transceiver development for Finisar Corp.
Joiner says OIF anticipated the need for higher data rates and has been working for three years to develop a Common Electrical Interface (CEI). “This provides the fundamental basis for how the integrated circuits will communicate with each other on the PC boards and across backplanes at these much higher data rates,” he said.
OIF has completed the CEI for 6gbps and 12gbps. It is currently working on a 25-28gbps CEI.
The SFI-X project, he said, is taking higher signaling rates and turning them into product definitions for integrated circuits that would be used at 100 gigabits. “We need more information from the [IEEE] 802.3 committee before we solidify what that SFI looks like,” he added.
Jack Waters, CTO for Level 3 Communications Inc., addressed the OIF members at its quarterly meeting last month. “Traffic continues to grow at high rates and the industry can’t afford to wait,” he said. “100G is needed very soon. I challenge the members of the OIF to move the industry forward and smooth the economic and technical development of 100G.”
Level 3 participated in the first ever demonstration of 100gbps Ethernet technology in fall 2006. Along with Finisar, Infinera Corp., Internet2 and University of California at Santa Cruz, Level 3 successfully transmitted through its network a 100gbps Ethernet signal from Tampa, Fla., to Houston and back again. This was the first time a 100gbps Ethernet signal has been transmitted successfully through a live production network.
At its third quarter meeting, Aug. 13-17 in Somerset, N.J., the OIF will host presentations on the status of 100gbps optical networking development and begin defining the next steps.
ATIS www.atis.org
Ethernet Alliance www.ethernetalliance.org
Finisar Corp. www.finisar.com
IEEE’s 802.3 Higher Speed Study Group http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/3/10G_study/public/index.html
Infinera Corp. www.infinera.com
Level 3 Communications Inc. www.level3.com
Optical Internetworking Forum www.oiforum.com
