Fujitsu Microelectronics, Gennum Corporation, Develop New Solution to Expand Data Center Bandwidth, Reduce 10 Gigabit Ethernet Power and Cost

Case Study Reviews the Application of SFP+ Architecture to Lower Costs by $40 per Port, Power by 1 W per Port

Fujitsu Microelectronics America, Inc. (FMA) and Gennum Corporation (TSX: GND) today issued a new case study describing how the companies combined forces to develop 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) technology that reduces cost and power while boosting data-center bandwidth.

The new case study, entitled "Reducing Power and Costs of 10G Solutions in Data Centers," provides a comprehensive description of a solution using Fujitsu's 26-port, 10GbE switch IC, the MB86C69RBC, with SFP+ modules embedded with Gennum's 10G CDR technology. Use of the SFP+ modules results in significant power savings, lower component count, lower cost manufacturing and the ability to pay as ports are populated on an as-needed basis.

The newly published report details how networking systems designers are under pressure to reduce cost and power while improving performance and functionality, and how the proposed SFP+ architecture enables a $40 savings per port, along with reductions of up to 1W per port in power consumption.

The 10Gbps serial-capable I/Os directly connect to the 10GbE optical modules with integrated signal-conditioning devices, removing the added power requirement and cost that comes from using extra components in the path. Reducing the cost per port also means 10GbE based on SFP+ optical transceivers can enable many new applications using 10GbE Network Interface Cards and switches for low-cost interconnectivity.

"Network systems designers need to reduce cost and power without sacrificing performance or functionality," said Asif Hazarika, director of marketing for networking products at Fujitsu Microelectronics America. "These objectives can only be met by using more highly integrated network switch chips and modules. The Fujitsu 10Gbps Ethernet switch, combined with the Gennum 10G CDR technology, provides the optimal solution, as this case study illustrates."

"Our goal in developing this SFP+ based solution was to eliminate the need for all components between the switch ASSP and the SFP+ optical module," said Bharat Tailor, director of marketing of Networking, Storage and Computing products at Gennum Corporation. "By integrating CDR technology in SFP+ modules, there is more than sufficient margin to enable integration of the 10Gb/s serial PHY in a large SoC device such as the Fujitsu Switch Chip without sacrificing any of the performance parameters. The end result is a power and cost optimized solution."

For a complete look at the new paper, visit http://www.fujitsu.com/downloads/MICRO/fma/formpdf/10gGennumCS.pdf or http://www.gennum.com/whitepapers

About Fujitsu Microelectronics America, Inc.

Fujitsu Microelectronics America, Inc. (FMA) leads the industry in innovation. FMA provides high-quality, reliable semiconductor products and services for the wireless, networking, consumer, automotive, and other markets throughout North and South America. For more product information, please visit the company's web site at http://us.fujitsu.com/micro/10gethernet or address e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About Gennum Corporation

Gennum Corporation (TSX: GND) designs innovative semiconductor solutions and intellectual property (IP) cores for the world's most advanced consumer connectivity, enterprise, video broadcast and data communications products. Leveraging the company's proven optical, analog and mixed-signal products and IP, Gennum enables multimedia and data communications products to send and receive information without compromising the signal integrity. A recognized award-winner for advances in high definition (HD) broadcasting, Gennum is headquartered in Burlington, Canada, and has global design, research and development and sales offices in Canada, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Taiwan, the United States and the United Kingdom. For information on Gennum CDR reference design kits, visit http://www.gennum.com/CDR-RDK

SOURCE Fujitsu Microelectronics America, Inc.

http://www.fma.fujitsu.com

Gigabit Ethernet Power and Cost