Project Analog - March 2008 - (Page 13)

Putting 10-gbe PhY options into perspective By Bud Noren Fulcrum Microsystems / Calabasas, CA www.fulcrummicro.com Contents Viewpoint Wireless Communication Using IrDA® Wireless Design Choices Advanced Communication Solutions for Lighting Analog news As the 10-G market matures, several choices have evolved for physical layer connection T he 10-Gbit Ethernet ecosystem is rapidly maturing, with multiple vendors offering network interface adapters with offload capabilities and high-density lowlatency switches. For many high-speed applications, 10 GbE is becoming an increasingly attractive option to traditional Fiber Channel and InfiniBand interconnects. As the market matures, several choices have evolved for physical layer connection and, as with the 1-Gbit generation, both optical and copper are options. Each physical layer alternative has advantages in terms of distance, cost, latency, and physical media, which must be weighed together in relation to the system’s application. board, baCkplane interfaCes At the board level, XAUI (10-Gbit attachment unit interface) is replacing XGMII (10-Gbit media-independent interface) due to reduced pin count and much longer allowed trace lengths. XAUI is already the de facto standard for 10 GbE in the backplane, providing a highly efficient, low-cost interface between chassis blades with low design risk. With pre-emphasis and equalization, 13 · ProjeCt ANALog · mAr 08 signal distance can be extended beyond 20 in. XAUI also offers support for multiple connectors, requires only a few layers and has lane reversal. The IEEE Standards Association recently approved 802.3ap for backplane Ethernet, specifying 10-Gbit operations over a distance of up to 40 in. on a standard FR4 PCB. The 10GBASE-KX standard provides for two different implementations: 10GBASE-KX4, and 10GBASE-KR. The 10GBASE-KX4 standard specifies four lanes (similar to XAUI), while the 10GBASE-KR implementation uses one lane with 64/66B encoding. For backplanes with a high total bandwidth requirement or where trace congestion is an issue, the 10GBASE-KR solution can now be used via SerDes chips from several vendors (see Table 1). ConneCting outside the box Copper interconnects have thus far dominated data center interconnectivity applications at 1-Gbit rates and lower because they have been the most cost-effective Microchip analog page Interface products overview Sample center microchipDIRECT Reference designs/ app notes Technical training http://www.fulcrummicro.com http://www.microchip.com http://www.microchip.com/analog http://www.microchip.com/analog http://www.microchip.com/interface http://www.microchip.com/interface http://sample.microchip.com/Default.aspx?testCookies=true http://www.microchipdirect.com/catalogselection.aspx?returnURL=default.aspx http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1469&filter1=function&redirects=appnotes http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1469&filter1=function&redirects=appnotes http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1423

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Project Analog - March 2008 Contents Viewpoint About Project Analog Sponsor Wireless Communication Using the IrDA® Standard Protocol Wireless Design Choices Advanced Communication Solutions for Lighting Putting 10-GbE PHY Options Into Perspective Ease Into the Flexible CANbus Network Technology and Drivers for Mobile WiMAX Analog News—Analog News from Multiple Sources Enter to Win an iPhone Contact Project Analog Sponsor Treelink Microchip Advanced Parts Selector (MAPS)

Project Analog - March 2008

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