The increased deployment of corporate PCs enabled with Gigabit Ethernet connections and the growing use of high-bandwidth multimedia applications and networked storage are creating the need for 10Gigabit connections in enterprise data-centers. To address this issue, Intel Corporation introduced a suite of five optical components that speed the development of cost-effective 10Gbp) Ethernet and 10Gbps FibreChannel optical transceivers.

A number of different multi-source agreements (MSAs) have emerged over the past year to address the reduced size, cost and power consumption requirements for optical transceivers aimed at enterprise applications. MSAs define electrical interfaces, physical characteristics, signalling schemes and other essential characteristics that enable companies to provide system OEMs with a reliable supply of standard products. XFP, XPAK/X2 and XENPAK are the three key MSAs for building optical transceivers for enterprise applications today, and, according to Intel, they are the only company to offer all physical layer components for these MSAs. Intel provides a single source for application support and validated component interoperability, enabling optical transceiver manufacturers to reduce their time to market.

The new optical components from Intel include the Intel LXT16713 10Gbps 1:1 Clock and Data Recovery (CDR) Device. Intel is the first vendor to offer a high-performance 1:1 CDR chip for XFP optical transceivers and optical line cards. The CDR helps the transceiver accurately sample an optical signal on a network. The device is protocol-agnostic, operating from 9.95 to 11.1Gbps, and also includes an integrated, high-sensitivity Limiting Amplifier, which post-amplifies the electrical signal. Luminent Inc. is developing an optical transceiver based on the XFP MSA.

Intel completes its XFP component family with the Intel® LXT16865 Transimpedance Amplifier (TIA), which receives electrical signals, and the Intel® LXT17001 10.7Gbps Low Power VCSEL Laser Driver, which is used to transmit information in an optical network.

The new Intel LXT12101 XAUI-to-10Gbps Serial Transceiver is used in XPAK/X2 and XENPAK optical transceivers, as well as XAUI-to-10Gbps serial line card applications. This transceiver translates XAUI (an electrical interface on many optical transceivers) signals to 10Gbps signals. The LXT12101 operates at low power, typically 1.9Watts and maximum of 2.2Watts. Since this is a highly integrated part, it fits in the smallest package available and has few external components. In addition, it meets the jitter and eye diagram requirements for 10Gbps communications and supports Fibre Channel. An eye diagram is the display that appears on an oscilloscope to represent signal clarity in an optical transceiver.

Intel's XPAK/X2 and XENPAK solution is completed with the Intel LXT17012 10.7Gbps Laser Driver or the LXT17001 VCSEL Laser Driver and the LXT16865 TIA.

All of the components listed above are currently sampling. Sample pricing for these components is as follows: LXT16713 1:1 CDR, $99; LXT16865 TIA, $75; LXT17001 VCSEL Laser Driver, $54; LXT12101 XAUI-to-10Gbps Serial Transceiver, $180; and LXT17012 10.7Gbps Laser Driver, $110.