At this week's OFC/NFOEC 2013, five companies announced that they will enter into a multi-source agreement (MSA) to create the CDFP (400 Gbps form-factor pluggable) industry consortium to define a transceiver module/plug mechanical form factor and a host-board electrical edge connector and cage for the technology.
The five companies involved in the CDFP MSA group are Avago Technologies; Brocade Communications Systems; JDS Uniphase Corporation; Molex; and TE Connectivity. The new CDFP MSA is intended to specify and encourage the development and commercialization of a 400 Gbps hot pluggable module that integrates 16 transmit and 16 receive channels supporting passive and active copper cables, and active optical modules.
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“This highly integrated transceiver module is expected to enable network equipment manufacturers to implement 400 Gbps solutions with high port density and increased system data throughput,” comments Scott Kipp, senior technologist, Brocade. “The MSA group intends to make specification details available to promote industry-wide adoption of compatible high density products.”
The CDFP MSA participants desire to provide products that are mechanically and electrically interchangeable. The project scope will specify the electrical interfaces, optical interfaces and mechanical interfaces, which may include optical connector and mating fiber optic cable plug, electrical connector, guide rail, front panel and host PCB layout requirements. Additionally, the MSA specification is expected to include thermal, electromagnetic and electrostatic discharge design recommendations.
“The collaboration is committed to enhancing customer choice and assuring interoperation and interchangeability by establishing multiple compatible sources of front panel, hot pluggable, 16-channel 400 Gbps modules that will essentially allow the entire copper cable and fiber-optics transceiver market to grow more rapidly,” states Scott Sommers, group product manager, Molex.
Requests for additional information and queries may be directed to the consortium's website; visit www.cdfp-msa.com for future updates.
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