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XLoom introduces drop-in optical interconnect replacement
XLoom Communications, Inc. a developer of chip-scale optoelectronic interconnects, today introduced its AVDAT 4X optical 10GbaseCX4 transceiver. AVDAT 4X is the first drop-in optical interconnect replacement for InfiniBand 4X and 10GbaseCX4 electrical connector receptacles, suitable for grid computing and data center applications. 
AVDAT 4X, a highly compact four-lane optical transceiver, is the industry's first transceiver with footprint and contact-pattern compatible with CX4. It is ideal for use in InfiniBand HCAs (Host Channel Adapters) as well as InfiniBand and Ethernet switches extending the link reach to more than a 100m for 20GBps speeds compared with only a few meters supported by copper cables. The AVDAT 4X supports InfiniBand SDR and DDR speeds as well as 10Gb Ethernet XAUI optical interfaces and Fibre Channel switches.
AVDAT 4X is powered by iFlame, XLoom’s second generation of commercial optical chips. It’s key capability is it's footprint and contact-pattern compatible with CX4, four-channel electrical connector receptacle defined by InfiniBand Architecture Release 1.2.
Key product highlights:
• Optical drop-in replacement for InfiniBand 4X,
requires no host-board changes as it maintains
the same electrical foot print of a 10GbaseCX
electrical connector.
• Miniature fiber-optic transceiver with 20 GBaud
bandwidth in each direction, compatible with
recent DDR systems
• Uses standard multimode 12-fiber ribbons with
standard MPO connectors
• Four channels in each direction; up to 5 GBaud
(DDR) line rate per channel
• Typical power consumption is 1W
• 3.3-V power supply
"AVDAT 4X is part of our vision to offer a drop-in optical replacement for every high speed electrical connector that's out there", said David Sachs XLoom's CEO. "We believe AVDAT 4X is unique, by being a simple replacement into existing product boards, providing a fully integrated fibre solution.”
According to Lloyd Dickman, CTO of QLogic's, System Interconnect Group, "Avdat 4X enables optical interconnects for InfiniBand right off-the-board in the same way many data centers use Fibre Channel and Ethernet optical interconnects, further widening the cabling technology alternatives available for InfiniBand in data center applications."
Avner Badihi, XLoom, president and co-founder, added "Unlike other solutions, the AVDAT 4X transceiver adds revenue for InfiniBand switch and HCA vendors, while offering extended link reaches, the lowest fiber cable bending radius, no cable range dependency and less external copper-to-fibre connections. All with a cost effective solution for the end-user."
The AVDAT 4X is currently sampling and is being integrated into multiple InfiniBand and Ethernet switches, as well as various Host Channel Adapters (HCAs.)
AVDAT 4X, a highly compact four-lane optical transceiver, is the industry's first transceiver with footprint and contact-pattern compatible with CX4. It is ideal for use in InfiniBand HCAs (Host Channel Adapters) as well as InfiniBand and Ethernet switches extending the link reach to more than a 100m for 20GBps speeds compared with only a few meters supported by copper cables. The AVDAT 4X supports InfiniBand SDR and DDR speeds as well as 10Gb Ethernet XAUI optical interfaces and Fibre Channel switches.
AVDAT 4X is powered by iFlame, XLoom’s second generation of commercial optical chips. It’s key capability is it's footprint and contact-pattern compatible with CX4, four-channel electrical connector receptacle defined by InfiniBand Architecture Release 1.2.
Key product highlights:
• Optical drop-in replacement for InfiniBand 4X,
requires no host-board changes as it maintains
the same electrical foot print of a 10GbaseCX
electrical connector.
• Miniature fiber-optic transceiver with 20 GBaud
bandwidth in each direction, compatible with
recent DDR systems
• Uses standard multimode 12-fiber ribbons with
standard MPO connectors
• Four channels in each direction; up to 5 GBaud
(DDR) line rate per channel
• Typical power consumption is 1W
• 3.3-V power supply
"AVDAT 4X is part of our vision to offer a drop-in optical replacement for every high speed electrical connector that's out there", said David Sachs XLoom's CEO. "We believe AVDAT 4X is unique, by being a simple replacement into existing product boards, providing a fully integrated fibre solution.”
According to Lloyd Dickman, CTO of QLogic's, System Interconnect Group, "Avdat 4X enables optical interconnects for InfiniBand right off-the-board in the same way many data centers use Fibre Channel and Ethernet optical interconnects, further widening the cabling technology alternatives available for InfiniBand in data center applications."
Avner Badihi, XLoom, president and co-founder, added "Unlike other solutions, the AVDAT 4X transceiver adds revenue for InfiniBand switch and HCA vendors, while offering extended link reaches, the lowest fiber cable bending radius, no cable range dependency and less external copper-to-fibre connections. All with a cost effective solution for the end-user."
The AVDAT 4X is currently sampling and is being integrated into multiple InfiniBand and Ethernet switches, as well as various Host Channel Adapters (HCAs.) 