Driven largely by the need for today's large-scale networks to support data-intensive technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), video streaming, cloud networking and high-performance computing, network bandwidth demand continues to grow — as much as 30% to 40% annually, according to market intelligence research by the 650 Group.
Keysight developed what it says is the industry’s first working 1.6-terabit Ethernet test and measurement system in a testbed with Credo Semiconductor. Source: Keysight TechnologiesKeysight Technologies said network equipment manufacturers, silicon chip manufacturers and data center operators need to build and operate next-generation 1.6T Ethernet networks to keep pace. But this is easier said than done.
Challenges include:
- Delivering higher speed and data throughput
- Implementing faster electrical lane speeds
- Measuring the performance of silicon chips
Recognizing these challenges, Keysight developed what it says is the industry’s first working 1.6T Layer 2 traffic generation and measurement system, as demonstrated in a joint testbed with Credo Semiconductor.
Highlights of the Keysight and Credo testbed demonstration include:
- Operational 1.6T Layer 2 engine: The engine operates on an interface of 16 electrical lanes running at 106.25 gigabits per second (Gbps) per lane with pulse amplitude modulation 4 (PAM4) signaling and forward error correction (FEC). This is also called 16 x 100G SERDES.
- Keysight hardware development test platform: With OSFP-XD front panel ports that can send and receive full line rate 1.6T layer 2 bi-directional traffic over a Credo provided 2-meter HiWire active electrical cable (AEC), the 1.6T measurement system measures the performance of the link and the AEC.
- Reliability with FEC: The Layer 2 engine running at full 1.6T line rate provides packet and FEC measurements, plus counters and other related statistics. FEC enhances data reliability by detecting and correcting errors that occur during data transmission.
Keysight said that manufacturers use these metrics during development and quality assurance testing to identify areas for improvement in device error correction performance and Ethernet link stability over time. End users can utilize FEC measurements to assess the resilience of network equipment under different stress conditions, enabling them to confidently deploy devices, interconnects and networking equipment into their production networks.
Keysight’s take on its collaboration with Credo is that 1.6T Ethernet speed is possible, and that its performance can be measured. Running at full line rate, the system can process more than a billion packets per second over a 2-meter active electrical cable: an unprecedented rate of speed.
