Tag: AOC

Next-Generation Data Center: AOC or DAC?

The growing role of clouds in data communications of all kinds with the consequent growth of hyperscale data centers, small moves towards 400Gbps deployment. There are some debates about which one is optimal for the Next-Generation Data Center (NGDC)? AOC or DAC?

First, how well do you know the optimal high-speed optical solutions for NGDC?

  • Distance
  • Cost
  • Power consumption
  • Cable weight
  • Density
  • Latency

DAC

DAC, short for Direct Attach Cable, is used to connect one mobility access switch with another when forming a stack. DAC can be either Passive Copper Cable (PCC) or Active Copper Cable (ACC).

AOC

AOC, short for Active Optical Cable, is an alternative to optical transceivers. It eliminates the separable interface between the transceiver module and optical cable and offers a number of advantages over DAC. Here is a picture of AOC as following.

Gigalight 200G QSFP-DD AOC

AOC vs. DAC

  1. AOC features longer distance—DAC up to 15m; AOC up to 300m.
  2. DAC is cheaper than AOC.
  3. DAC features lower power consumption than AOC.
  4. AOC features lower cable weight than DAC.
  5. DAC and AOC offer the same density.
  6. AOC features lower latency than DAC.

Conclusion

As the development of optical communication technologies, it is said that the optics will replace copper in the future. Thought I don’t think so, there is no doubt that AOC is becoming the mainstream solution for NGDC owing to its advantages. AOC will have a greater potential than DAC in the deployment of NGDC.

A few years ago, the largest data centers would never have bought Chinese AOCs fearing that they would be low quality. There are data center managers who worry about such things and are very rigid about specs when it comes to components such as AOCs. However, with the development of optical communication market in recent years, the whole AOC business is shifting to China. We expect that the differences between the U.S. and Chinese firms are eroding when it comes to quality. As one of the best Chinese firms, Gigalight is respectable in the AOC market. In 2019, Gigalight can offer 200Gbps and even 400Gbps AOCs.

Source: Next-Generation Data Center: AOC or DAC?

An Overview of 200G QSFP-DD AOC

The Market Situation of AOC

Today’s hyperscale data centers and High-Performance Computing (HPC) markets require low-cost solutions for high-performance AOCs for the large-scale adoption of 200G and 400G data rates.

According to a recent report from LightCounting, the multi-mode AOC market will be experiencing significant growth over the next five years in the HPC and large-scale data center applications.

However, the market for 100G AOC is continually growing in the HPC and large-scale data center applications now, and it is still too early to adopt 400G AOC owing to cost and others so that the adoption of 200G AOC is expected to grow in the next years.

AOC and EOM to see revenue growth through 2023 (Source: LightCounting)

In the 200G AOC market, the 200G QSFP-DD AOC is a kind of parallel transceiver optics assembly. It will be the huge potential market and it is possible to replace copper technology in HPC and data center, the reasons include form factor, cost and so on. Next, we will explore them together.

Why Is 200G QSFP-DD AOC More Likely to Be Popular?

The 200G QSFP-DD AOC is a kind of 200G AOC that adopts the QSFP-DD form factor.

QSFP-DD is an eight-channel electrical interface with an additional row of contacts. It is being developed by the QSFP-DD MSA as a key part of the industry’s effort to enable high-speed solutions. The 200G QSFP-DD AOC meets the requirements of QSFP-DD MSA specification.

The QSFP-DD modules are similar to current QSFP. The systems designed with QSFP-DD modules can be backward compatible, allowing them to support existing QSFP modules and provide flexibility for end users and system designers. The 200G QSFP-DD AOC is convenient for end users and system designers.

The Introduction of Gigalight 200G QSFP-DD AOC

Gigalight is one of the rare providers for 200G QSFP-DD AOC. Its 200G QSFP-DD AOC is driving from its innovative optical packaging and the key manufacturing technologies enable scalability, reduced power consumption, increased reliability, and superior module performance for optical communications.

Gigalight 200G QSFP-DD AOC

Features of Gigalight 200G QSFP-DD AOC

  • 8 channels full-duplex 850nm parallel active optical cable
  • Transmission data rate up to 25.78Gbps per channel with integrated CDR
  • Hot-pluggable QSFP-DD form-factor connectors
  • Low power consumption < 4W per end
  • Operating case temperature range 0°C to +70°C

The module block diagram of Gigalight 200G QSFP-DD AOC

Gigalight 200G QSFP-DD AOC adopts self-developed COB (Chip on Board) high-precision technology. The cost of the product is lower and the volume is smaller, which can provide a new generation solution with low cost, low power consumption, high density and high speed for the data center.

Originally article: An Overview of 200G QSFP-DD AOC