SYSTIMAX Solutions™ from CommScope (NYSE: CTV), the worldwide leader in structured connectivity solutions, in collaboration with SolarflareTM Communications, has confirmed that its SYSTIMAX® GigaSPEED® X10D Solution performed to their specifications in full-day certification test demonstrations of 10GBASE-T technology on 100 meter links held at Solarflare’s labs in Irvine, California. More exhaustive stress tests to continue the collaborative engineering effort are planned in the SYSTIMAX cabling labs in Richardson, Texas. The ability to utilize high-performance Ethernet connections for copper cabling is expected to lower the cost of 10 Gb/s networking, making it more accessible to data centers and enterprises.
The recently published IEEE 802.3an-2006 Standard for 10GBASE-T requires all 10GBASE-T physical layer chips to reach 100 meters on Category 6A cabling.
The California-based tests were conducted using Solarflare's 10GBASE-T physical layer (PHY) evaluation boards and a 100-meter SYSTIMAX GigaSPEED X10D UTP channel in a worst-case, full-reach, 4-connector channel configuration (as specified in the TIA: Addendum 10 for Category 6A and ISO/IEC 11801: 2002 Amendment 1 for Class EA draft standards).
A “six-around-one” configuration was utilized, with six disturbing cables tightly bundled around one “victim” or “disturbed” cable. The 10GBASE-T signals were launched through a generator at the standard XAUI interface to the PHY evaluation boards. The signals from the receive packets, or frames, at the far end transceiver were compared to those from the send frames. 10Gb/s Ethernet traffic was carried simultaneously on all six disturbing channels, simulating a worst-case environment for alien crosstalk. There were no errors detected during the certification demonstrations on channel lengths up to 100 meters.
Solarflare was the first PHY vendor to ship 100-meter, standards-compliant 10GBASE-T samples to customers in August 2006. “Solarflare has been committed to solving the hard technical problem of supporting the Ethernet standards and the building and cabling specifications that demand 100 meters. We have also heard the clear requirement from customers for 100-meter reach 10GBASE-T products,” said Bruce Tolley, Vice President of Marketing at Solarflare. “The combination of our PHY with the GigaSPEED X10D 100 meter, 4-connector channel provided an impressive 26 dB Signal Noise Ratio (SNR).
“Our solution is robust,” Tolley continued. “This testing validates that the next generation of standards-based Ethernet products for copper cabling is here. IT professionals can begin planning the cost-effective and easy move to higher-speed connectivity for their data centers and networks that 10GBASE-T makes possible. We have found that 10GBASE-T provides error-free transmission exceeding the 10^-12 error rate requirement in the IEEE 802.3 10GBASE-T standard.”
SYSTIMAX Solutions believes it was the first vendor to provide a full 100-meter UTP solution that guarantees compliance with the ratified IEEE 802.3an standards for 10GBASE-T and the new Category 6A/Class EA cabling standards. In December 2004, SYSTIMAX Solutions launched the SYSTIMAX GigaSPEED X10D Solution to provide a
next-generation cabling solution that supports both the bandwidth needs of today’s enterprises and the needs of more demanding applications – such as high-resolution video, grid computing and Storage Area Network/Network Attached Storage (SAN/NAS).
“The ability to operate 10Gb/s Ethernet over UTP copper cabling marks the advent of next-generation Ethernet technology,” said Luc Adriaenssens, Senior Vice President of R&D and Technology, Enterprise, CommScope. “This ability provides a much-needed forward migration path for enterprise network infrastructures. These results demonstrate that 10Gb/s Ethernet over UTP cabling is fast becoming a reality. We look forward to working more closely with Solarflare in the next round of joint assurance testing in a real world, mixed protocol environment as well as jointly educating the market on cost-effective networking using UTP cabling.
“Now that the 10GBASE-T standard is ratified, we expect the market for 10Gb/s-enabled twisted pair cabling to move quickly from early adopters to mass market – similar to the movement we saw when 100Mb/s and 1Gb/s standards were ratified,” continued Adriaenssens. “The cost reduction and power consumption curves are very steep for network electronics. As enterprises look back on how their bandwidth needs have grown and changed over time, they should look closely at what they expect their bandwidth needs to be in the future with respect to investing in 10Gb/s-enabled twisted pair cabling. We believe they should be evaluating Category 6A cabling and 10GBASE-T products now.”
The SYSTIMAX GigaSPEED X10D Solution is one of many leading copper, fiber and patching solutions introduced by SYSTIMAX Solutions in recent years. To offer the enterprise market more information on the important role these connectivity solutions play in building a reliable network infrastructure, SYSTIMAX Solutions has developed an educational document, “A Guide to 10 Gigabit Ethernet Technologies.” To receive a free copy of this document, email your request to systimax@systimax.com.
About SYSTIMAX Solutions
SYSTIMAX Solutions from CommScope (NYSE: CTV) is a worldwide leader in structured cabling systems and provides integrated end-to-end connectivity solutions for
video, voice, data and building management applications in both wired and wireless enterprise networks.
SYSTIMAX Solutions supplies its high performance and market-leading range of products through a network of highly skilled BusinessPartners. The product range includes the copper-based GigaSPEED X10D and GigaSPEED XL Solutions, the fiber optic LazrSPEED and TeraSPEED Solutions and the intelligent patching iPatch® System. The SYSTIMAX AirSPEED™ Solution adds a wireless option to the portfolio. Drawing on their Bell Labs heritage, the people of SYSTIMAX Labs who have spearheaded these innovations will continue to play an integral role in the future success of SYSTIMAX Solutions. Currently the company’s BusinessPartners install an average of over 1,000 miles (1,600km) of SYSTIMAX cable every day in approximately 130 countries worldwide.
For further information please visit http://www.systimax.com
About SolarflareTM Communications Inc.
Solarflare Communications Inc. is a leading silicon vendor delivering Ethernet products that enable the rapid adoption of 10 Gigabit for data center and enterprise networks. The privately held company is headquartered in Irvine, California, with a development center in Cambridge, UK. For more information, visit http://www.solarflare.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements in this press release that are not historical facts should be considered forward-looking statements that are based on information currently available to management, management's beliefs, as well as on a number of assumptions concerning future events. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results to differ materially from those currently expected. For a more detailed description of the factors that could cause such a difference, please see CommScope's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In providing forward-looking statements, the company does not intend, and is not undertaking any obligation or duty, to update these statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Fiona Nolan
SYSTIMAX Solutions
+353 1 2042000
fnolan@systimax.com
or
Slider & Associates for Solarflare Communications
Sacha Arts
Tel: 408-356-3099
sacha@sliderassociates.com