MultiLane Interconnect Solutions

Interconnect Solutions Enable Network Evolution

As faceplate density and data rates have increased, form factors and multi-source agreements (MSAs) designed to meet these needs have proliferated. To test and qualify systems and modules, equipment vendors require interconnects, adapters, analyzers, and cabling to set up their test systems. These essential tools must be compliant with the relevant standards. MultiLane supports the evolution of the data center by providing a complete selection of interconnect products for a wide variety of standards. For example, MultiLane supports Host Compliance Boards, Module Compliance Boards, Loopback Modules, and Analyzers for I2C CMIS and state machine testing. The solutions offered in this brochure are MSA compliant and utilize the standard-defined CMIS interface.

Host Compliance Boards

A host compliance board is a breakout fixture that can be plugged into the system host side, providing access to the host electrical input and output signal (TP1a, TP4a compliance test points). It is a passive structure designed for optimum signal integrity. The graph below shows typical insertion loss performance.

ML4064-HCB

Reference: 802.3bs spec, section Annex 120E, p253

A diagram shows a host connected to a compliance board (HCB) with TP1a and TP4a test points. The HCB is connected to a transmitter (200GAUI-4 or 400GAUI-8 host component) and a receiver.

Module Compliance Boards

A module compliance board is a breakout fixture where a transceiver module can be plugged in to provide access to the module's electrical input and output signal (TP1, TP4 compliance test points). MultiLane's MCBs offer an efficient and easy method for programming and testing transceivers and active optical cables. They include a user-friendly GUI that supports all features defined by the respective MSA, simplifying configuration processes for intuitive memory map programming and testing. This provides an ideal environment for transceiver module testing, characterization, and manufacturing.

ML4041-K

Reference: 802.3bs spec, section Annex 120E, p253

Loopback Modules

Passive/Thermal Loads

Loopback modules are packaged in a standard MSA housing compatible with their respective ports. Transmit data from the host is electrically routed internally to the loopback module to the receive data outputs and back to the host. These modules function as thermal loads and have programmable power dissipation. This offers an economical method for exercising system ports during R&D validation, production testing, and field testing. Some modules are thermal load only and do not include the high-speed loopback routing of signals; they are used solely to test the thermal and power loading of a system.

The power dissipation of the loopbacks is programmable, and the thermal loads emulate the thermal profiles of costlier optical transceivers. The image below shows an example of the power dissipation elements inside a loopback module.

ML4062-S-TL QSFP-DD 400G power dissipation elements

A video titled "Interconnects Webinar From A to Z" is available, featuring speakers Sana Awar and Vincent Leuzze, both Field Applications Engineers.

Active Loopbacks

MultiLane also provides active loopbacks for situations with extremely challenging signal integrity conditions, enabling the ability to properly test next-generation systems. The ML4062-ALB1-112 QSFP-DD800 Active Loopback provides instrument-grade measurements directly in port and can retime and equalize port signals to test lossy channels.

The ALB offers 800G port analysis, where a DSP enables retiming and equalization of host signals. Features include:

• Multi-Vendor DSP support
• VSR support
• BERT with PRBS PPG + ED and SNR monitoring
• CMIS 5.0 support
• 20W+ programmable power dissipation
• Communication via USB-C, I2C or ethernet
• OSFP800 and QSFP-DD800 support
• Access to ALB GUI
• Access to ThunderBert (BERT GUI) for BER Analysis directly within port, TX EQ tuning, CMIS validation

A video titled "MultiLane Active Loopbacks: Design and Characterize 800G Systems with Confidence" is available.

Loss Target Loopbacks

MultiLane provides Loss Target Loopbacks with an attenuation of 6 or 9 dB.

Loss Target Loopbacks

Smart Loopbacks

As a global leader in Data Center Interconnect test solutions, MultiLane uses the term 'smart loopbacks' to highlight the rich and powerful feature set offered. The concept of smart loopbacks enables testing beyond regular thermal loading and signal integrity validation, supporting a variety of features crucial for firmware validation of new host designs:

• Fully programmable MSA memory pages
• Low speed signal status indicators
• Edge detection of control signals
• Raising alarm signals to any desired state
• LCD monitor to report real-time diagnostics

MultiLane also offers full customization of loopbacks to meet specific testing needs. This includes setting the location and magnitude of thermal loads on the PCB itself, defining specific register content across memory map pages, and forcing precise insertion loss/return loss impairments along the loopback traces.

CMIS

The Common Management Interface Specification (CMIS) in versions 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 is a unified protocol ensuring device interoperability at speeds ranging from 100G to 800G. MultiLane's ML4066 CMIS analyzers ensure that both modules and hosts conform to this vital standard, regardless of the manufacturer. This applies to OSFP, QSFP-DD, and QSFP112 modules (with more form factors available upon request).

A video demonstrating the "CMIS Test Solution" is available, focusing on eliminating complexity for hyperscaler deployments.

The video shows a system with electrical and optical components, including host side, module side, and CMIS interface connections.

Adapters

An adapter is a port extender that maintains the same form factor while providing signal access for diagnostics, or a media converter that transforms one MSA-compliant form factor into another. The port extender provides access to low-speed control signals or power supply lines and can be used with an analyzer board for CMIS state machine analysis. This also enables the debugging of a host-to-module connection.

Analyzers

MultiLane provides analyzer boards that plug into port extenders, offering low-speed signal access and enabling power supply, I2C, and functional testing. The boards include a Windows GUI and USB interface. The CMIS Analyzer GUI supports dynamic testing in three operational modes:

1. Initiator mode: Analyzer acts as a host for a module DUT
2. Target mode: Analyzer acts as a module for a host DUT
3. Bypass mode: Analyzer monitors exchange between host and module

A link to "Read more" is provided.

Cables

MultiLane offers a wide variety of cables for test instrumentation connectivity.

A link to "For more information click here" is provided.

Solutions by MSA

The following tables list all Interconnect Test Solutions available per MSA standard. Additional information about the respective MSAs can be found in the appendix.

Channel Emulation Board

QSFP-DD

QSFP-DD continued

QSFP-DD continued

QSFP-DD continued

QSFP-DD800 continued

QSFP28 continued

SFP56

QSFP 400G

OSFP

OSFP 800G

SFP28/56 continued

SFP56

DSFP

SFP-DD

SFP-DD continued

QSFP+

CFP2-ACO

CFP2-ACO continued

CFP2-DCO

CFP2

CFP continued

CFP8

APPENDIX: MSA REFERENCES

QSFP-DD

QSFP-DD is a new module and cage/connector system similar to current QSFP, but with an additional row of contacts providing for an eight lane electrical interface. It is being developed by the QSFP-DD MSA as a key part of the industry's effort to enable high-speed solutions. By quadrupling aggregate switch bandwidth while maintaining port density, QSFP-DD will support continuing growth in network bandwidth demand and datacenter traffic. Systems designed with QSFP-DD modules will be backwards compatible, allowing them to support existing QSFP modules and provide flexibility for end users and system designers.

For more information click here.

QSFP-DD800

The QSFP-DD800 MSA group was formed to advance the development of high-speed, double density QSFP modules which support 800 Gbps connectivity. As signal integrity and thermal performance remain imperative, the transceiver pads have been optimized to improve signal integrity for 100 Gbps performance per lane without affecting backwards compatibility. Looking ahead, QSFP-DD800 promoters will continue to work on new connector/cage variants, including 2×1 SMT versions that operate at 100 Gbps per lane.

For more information click here.

OSFP

Established in November 2016, the OSFP MSA group has developed a high-performance pluggable optics module form factor that is capable of supporting the full range of 400G optics technologies for datacenter and metro applications. In addition, the OSFP is designed to support the next generation of 800G optics modules that will use eight lanes of 100 Gbps, and offers backwards compatibility with 100G QSFP via a simple adaptor.

For more information click here.

SFP-DD

Members of the MSA will develop operating parameters, signal transmission speed goals, and protocols for the SFP-DD interface, which expands on the SFP pluggable form factor, a widely adopted electrical interface used in data centers and other networking platforms. The new SFP-DD electrical interfaces will be designed to support 2 lanes that operate up to 25 Gbps NRZ or 56 Gbps PAM4 per lane, providing solutions up to 50 Gbps or 112 Gbps PAM4 aggregate. By doubling the lane density and data speed of SFP transceivers, the SFP-DD specification will address increased port density and scalability in next-generation applications, with a primary focus on the server side interconnect.

For more information click here.

DSFP

To address the growing port density and scalability requirements of Wireless and 5G Mobile infrastructure, the DSFP specification doubles the data rate and port density of SFP modules. DSFP has two electrical lane pairs, each operating at bit rates up to 26 Gbps using NRZ and 56 Gbps using PAM4, supporting aggregate date rates up to 56 Gbps and 112 Gbps, respectively. DSFP will potentially scale to a per lane bit rate of 112 Gbps using PAM4, supporting aggregate data rate up to 224 Gbps. SFP modules can be plugged into DSFP ports for backwards compatibility.

For more information click here.

CFP

The CFP Multi-Source Agreement (MSA) defines hot-pluggable optical transceiver form factors to enable 40Gb/s, 100Gb/s and 400Gb/s applications, including next-generation High Speed Ethernet (40GE, 100GE and 400GE). Pluggable CFP, CFP2, CFP4 and CFP8 transceivers will support the ultrahigh bandwidth requirements of data communication networks that form the backbone of the internet. The most recent CFP8 transceiver form factor provides for a very versatile platform that can support a broad range of PMD's at 400G, and importantly offers a path to products in the future that are capable of supporting 800 44Gb/s.

For more information click here.