Companies collaborate to achieve optimized terabit scale data center interconnect systems

     The latest data center architectures and increasing traffic are driving higher bandwidth demands between data centers. To address this challenge, system developers must simplify the development of next-generation 1.2Tbps (1.2T) transport solutions in a variety of client configurations. This requires today's Terbit-class Ethernet PHY devices and coherent optical modules to interoperate in DCI and metro transport networks. Microchip Technology has partnered with Acacia to demonstrate fourth-generation interoperability between Microchip's META-DX2 Ethernet PHY family and Acacia's Coherent Interconnect Module 8 (CIM 8).

     The companies' interoperable devices provide low-power, bandwidth-optimized, scalable solutions for pluggable optics in DCI and transport networks. Together, they provide high-capacity, multi-rate multi-amplifiers for optical transport platforms, providing three key benefits:

     The META-DX2 family, through its META-DX2+ PHY, uses its unique Lambda Splitting feature to split 400GbE or 800GbE clients across multiple wavelengths driven by the CIM8 module. This maximizes rate configurations between data centers, such as 3 x 800GbE / 2 x 1.2Tbps waves or 5 x 400GbE / 2 x 1Tbps waves.

     Together, the two companies have demonstrated successful SerDes interoperability of up to 112G per channel on Ethernet and OTN clients, reducing design verification and system certification requirements.the META-DX2+ crossover and transmission capabilities enable 100GbE to 800GbE client modules to connect to CIM8 modules at full bandwidth.

     "This interoperability extends a long-standing partnership with Acacia to help accelerate and optimize the build of cloud and AI-ready optical networks while reducing development risk for our customers," said Maher Fahmi, vice president of Microchip's communications business unit. Our META-DX2 is the first solution of its kind to integrate 1.6T encryption, port aggregation and Lambda splitting into the most compact 112G PAM4 device on the market."

     "Acacia's CIM 8 coherence module has been proven to interoperate with Microchip's META DX2 devices, and we believe this is a powerful solution to reduce system time to market," said Markus Weber, senior Director of DSP product line management at Acacia. "The compact size and power efficiency of our CIM 8 coherent modules are designed to help network operators deploy and scale capacity for high-bandwidth DWDM connections between the data center and the entire transmission network."