CorEdge Networks Introduces New 10Gbps Ethernet Fabric Card Using the Fujitsu 20-Port 10GbE Switch Chip for MicroTCA Carrier Hub Modules


Interoperates Seamlessly With CorEdge's Base MCH, Clock and Power Modules

BOSTON and SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 7 - Continuing its series of MicroTCA industry firsts, CorEdge Networks, Inc. is introducing 10GE fabric switching adaptor, the CEN-FAB-E, as part of its MicroTCA Carrier Hub (MCH) module family, with immediate sampling availability. The CEN-FAB-E enables 10Gbps low latency, non blocking communication on AdvancedMCs, even in a 75 mm MicroTCA environment. The CEN-FAB-E is based on the Fujitsu MB8AAQ3020, 20-port, 10 Gigabit Ethernet switch chip, which was developed expressly for innovative applications such as the MCH.

"The introduction of the CEN-FAB-E is a major event in the commercialization of the MicroTCA standard. Until now, working implementations of MicroTCA have relied on a 1GE base channel, which was designed for control plane functions. In the absence of a separate fabric switch, the base channel was used for 1GE switching," said Will Chu, president of CorEdge Networks. "This was useful for initial demonstrations of MicroTCA, but it's like driving a bicycle with training wheels. With the CEN-FAB-E, we finally have a system that runs at wire speed. This makes possible a whole range of 10Gbps implementations using the MicroTCA standard."

"We selected Fujitsu's 20-port, 10 Gigabit Ethernet switch chip because of its low latency, low power, small footprint, high efficiency and performance. The 300-nanosecond switching latency, low power consumption, on-chip 10Gbps serial PHY, congestion management, ease of programmability, and hardware-assisted adaptive equalization are key features that have enabled our MCH solution. All of these breakthroughs help us to provide half a terabit multi-protocol switching capacity into the tight MCH board space," added Chu.

The Fujitsu MB8AAQ3020 switch chip supports 20-port, 10Gigabit channels, or 400+Gbps of non-blocking, aggregate switching bandwidth. Each port can support 4-lane XAUI/CX4 or a single XFI interface. The CEN fabric is designed to support up to 10 AMC cards with 4-lane XAUI and eight XFI lanes on the back plane connector, and two CX-4 units on the front panel for external communications. The CEN-FAB-E enables a MicroTCA system with full 20 Gigabit switching per AMC when both MCH units are working, and 10 Gigabit support when one fails in a redundant configuration when the eight XFI lines are connected between the two MCHs. The CEN-FAB-E can support other switching configurations as well.

"We were delighted to collaborate with CorEdge Networks in the creation of the MicroTCA's first 10 Gigabit Ethernet MCH switching fabric, clearly an important element for the MicroTCA ecosystem. We congratulate CorEdge on this important achievement," said Asif Hazarika, senior manager, Networking Solutions Group, Fujitsu Microelectronics America. "This design posed a lot of challenges due to its tight space and power requirements, and CorEdge handily overcame them. We are deeply impressed with the company's ability to bring products like the MCH, MicroTCA power module and PicoTCA systems to the industry. We look forward to working closely with them to make 10 Gigabit Ethernet technology a very well-accepted backplane solution for telecom and data-center equipment."

The CEN-FAB-E fits as an adaptor card on Tongue 3/4 of an MCH multi-tongue connector. The CEN-MCH base card fits on Tongue 1, and the optional CEN-SATA or CEN-CLK clock adopter cards fit on Tongue 2. The combination of the base MCH card, fabric module and optional fabric switch and clock module fits in a single chassis 75 mm slot, for optimal port density.

CorEdge Networks will be selling the CEN-FAB-E as part of two MCH product bundles. The CEN-MCH-NE bundle will come with a base MCH and 10GE fabric in a single AMC slot. The CEN-MCH-TE will add a CEN-CLK-T telco clock module, also in a single AMC slot. Either MCH bundle will interoperate seamlessly with the CorEdge's CEN-MPWR power module and in the company's PicoTCA systems.

Over the past 18 months, CorEdge Networks' MCH and power modules have undergone extensive interoperability testing at many PICMG ATCA and MicroTCA Interoperability Workshops, with boards and chassis from leading vendors. These devices have also passed extensive testing at two leading Tier 1 systems companies. CorEdge Networks remains the industry standard, giving customers confidence that MicroTCA systems using CorEdge components will work according to specifications and will interoperate with leading third-party vendor offerings.

Samples of the CEN-MCH-NE and CEN-MCH-TE modules are available now. Pricing is available upon request.

CorEdge Networks MicroTCA Products

CorEdge Networks' MicroTCA product line includes boards as well as its patent-pending PicoTCA platforms. At the board level, CorEdge Networks produces the industry's only standards-compliant MicroTCA Carrier Hub (MCH), which provides management of a MicroTCA chassis and up to 12 AMCs, and supports various networking and clocking functions. The CorEdge Networks MCH currently supports three different clock modules that enable Telco, PCI Express or GPS/WiMAX applications. Fabric MCH modules will support 10GbE, PCI Express or SerialRapidIO "fat pipe" switching. The MCH interoperates seamlessly with CorEdge's Power Module, which provides MicroTCA power management/distribution.

To support MicroTCA system developers, CorEdge Networks has produced the industry's only series of ultra-small form-factor PicoTCA systems. The CEN-PICO-1US is a complete "standalone" AMC and MicroTCA Bench Top System that provides engineers and system designers with a cost-effective tool to aid in the development, design, debug and test of AMC and MicroTCA systems. It includes a System/Power Controller that enables users to quickly "bring up" AMCs in a MicroTCA-like environment to facilitate AMC development. The Pico 1US is extremely compact, measuring 13.0" (w) x 8.0" (d) x 1.75" (h) [1U].

CorEdge Networks' PicoTCA chassis are stackable up to 4U while sharing a unified management and power system. For engineers needing greater access to functions in the testing of an individual AMC, an engineering test version with a Rear Transition Module is available. A 19" rack-mountable system that supports additional AMC modules will be available later this year.

The Fujitsu MB8AAQ3020 20-port 10Gbps Switch Chip

The industry's most powerful 20-port, 10Gbps Ethernet switch IC, the MB8AA3020 is designed to meet the performance demands of high-density backplane switching for advanced TCA (ATCA), MicroTCA, blade server, and data center applications. The 10GbE switch chip delivers 400+ Gbps, non-blocking, aggregate switching bandwidth through 3Mbytes of proprietary, multi-stream shared buffer memory, with on-chip 10Gbps serial SerDes. The switch IC embeds 20 high-bandwidth, full-duplex 10Gbps ports in a single, integrated 1,156-pin FCBGA package. The 10Gbps serial ports provide a twofold, industry-leading advantage. First, they eliminate the need for expensive off-chip XAUI to XFI SerDes, allowing direct connections to optical XFP modules on any port and helping to significantly reduce cost, latency, power consumption, and board space. Second, the ports reduce the routing overhead inherent in running 4 x 3.125G lanes.

About CorEdge Networks

CorEdge Networks is a leading supplier of ATCA/MicroTCA/AMC compliant infrastructure products. For more detailed information on CorEdge Networks products, see www.coredgenetworks.com .

About Fujitsu Microelectronics America

Fujitsu Microelectronics America, Inc. (FMA) leads the industry in innovation. FMA provides high-quality, reliable semiconductor products and services for the networking, communications, automotive, security and other markets throughout North and South America. For more information about 10 Gigabit Ethernet please see us.fujitsu.com/micro/10gethernet , or address e-mail to inquiry@fma.fujitsu.com

The Fujitsu 20-port, 10Gbps Ethernet switch evaluation board, http://www.fujitsu.com/downloads/MICRO/fma/imagelib/10gbps/highres/10Gboard.zip

The CorEdge 10GE fabric switching adaptor, the CEN-FAB-E, http://www.fujitsu.com/downloads/MICRO/fma/imagelib/10gbps/highres/coredge.zip

Source: Fujitsu Microelectronics America, Inc.

CONTACT:
media
Will Chu
CorEdge Networks
+1-617-267-5205
info@coredgenetworks.com

Emi Igarashi
Fujitsu Microelectronics America, Inc.
1-408-737-5647
eigarash@fma.fujitsu.com

Jill Budzynski
1-763-548-8208
jmb@marketready.com

Tina Tan
1-763-548-8208
ttan@marketready.com

Web site: www.coredgenetworks.com/

http://www.fma.fujitsu.com/

All Topics