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Simply stated, a testbed is an environment that is created for testing equipment. Testbeds accurately simulate the intended environment to ensure a device meets quality standards. A proper testbed for a third-party OEM compatible optics supplier requires significant capital resources, illustrating a strong commitment to quality assurance.

All networking components are expected to work seamlessly and according to industry specifications. Through testbed investment, third-party compatible optics suppliers demonstrate their commitment to quality and adherence to industry specifications, ensuring expectations are met. To measure up, a third-party supplier should invest in:

• Comprehensive switch equipment inventory
• Environmental testing capabilities, such as spools of fiber at varying distances to test speed, distance, and power
• Experienced staff and abundance of staff to test each device
• Thorough documentation of testing parameters and results

These investments lay the foundation and provide the confidence in purchasing quality compatibles. If you’re wondering how your supplier measures up, here are some questions to ask:

• How many switches do you have in your lab facility?
• Do you test each device or batch test?
• What does your testing documentation look like?
• What is your reliability rating?
• May I visit your testbed facility?

Third-party compatible suppliers should be thorough and transparent when providing their answers. To illustrate, if you were to ask ProLabs these questions, these would be the answers you’d receive:

ProLabs has over 350 switches in their lab facility. Each device is coded and tested in the intended application and within the intended switch environment. ProLabs Data Traveler System provides thorough documentation for every device. ProLabs reliability rating is 99.98% and the lab facility is open to visitors upon appointment.

To view a thorough testbed offering from ProLabs, visit https://www.prolabs.com/knowledge-hub/prolabs-testbedfor a real-time list of switch equipment inventory.

Tustin, California, US February 13, 2020 – ProLabs, the largest global independent supplier of high-speed cabling and fiber optic transceivers, has successfully demonstrated its connectivity solutions to the renowned University of New Hampshire Interoperability Lab (UNH-IOL).

As a follow up to ProLabs investment in the University of New Hampshire Interoperability Lab, 25 products were sent to undergo the highly regarded UNH Open Networking Systems Interoperability testing, with all modules achieving the coveted standard in interoperability testing. Comprising of conformance and interoperability testing, alongside visual eye diagrams and with a focus on hardware level capabilities and compatibility between multiple devices, the rigorous testing marks ProLabs products as completely interoperable and fully conformed in specification and attestation parts.

“Our optical products have been truly proven to be of the best quality, having passed these third-party independent trials by UNH-IOL, who are highly-respected within the industry. It gives ProLabs a competitive edge to have this level of acknowledgement,” said David Sohn, VP of Technical Services at ProLabs. “Customers can have absolute trust that the optical connectivity solutions they purchase from us, are guaranteed to be of the highest standard and will fully conform and operate in the environments they are specified for. This is a qualification unparalleled and on top of our pre-existing rigorous in-house testing, gives our components a unique and undeniable level of quality assurance.”

This is the latest development in the partnership between ProLabs and the University of New Hampshire Interoperability Lab, which most recently included an appearance by ProLabs at the annual UNH-IOL Career Advancement Event.

This continued collaboration is creating an innovative legacy to educate and inspire students as they continue to develop industry-wide networking applications as well as providing an incomparable quality control process.

“We are pleased ProLabs has passed the required testing set forth in the Open Networking standards for both interoperability and conformance testing at the lab. It is encouraging to see a company incorporating interoperability as a key part of their production process,” said Michael Klempa, Technical Manager at the University of New Hampshire Interoperability Lab. “Alongside the testing, we are excited about the student advantage partnership with ProLabs. Our computer science and electrical engineering students are getting vital first-hand experience of working with component systems engineers from ProLabs, as well as allowing them an input to deliver their concepts and ideas. It is important we give these innovators of the future a thorough education to unlock the potential they could have on the industry.”

As the sector advances and new technologies emerge, interoperability is becoming more important. Operators worldwide are looking for innovative solutions that are proven to address the ever-increasing demands that are being placed upon their networks. By achieving these results through industry standard testing and its ongoing collaboration with the University of New Hampshire Interoperability Lab, ProLabs is enforcing its commitment to high-quality interoperable solutions and the engineers of the future.

About ProLabs
ProLabs has been the worldwide technology leader and independent provider of fiber optic transceivers and high-speed cabling since 1999. Operating in over 25 countries, ProLabs offers a wide range of connectivity solutions for the telecommunications, government, education, and enterprise sectors. With industry pioneering technology and expert service, ProLabs is transforming the way operators design their data centers and networks. All products are 100% OEM-compatible across more than 150 vendors and over 20,000 systems. Backed by lifetime warranty and around the clock support, every product sold is quality assured with one of the broadest inventories available for immediate shipment. ProLabs serves a global engineering customer base with deep technical expertise and through continuous investments in R&D, it ensures leading edge optical network solutions at scale. For more information visit www.prolabs.com and follow them on LinkedIn.

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Proactive International PR Ltd

prolabs@proactive-pr.com

Bandwidth Demand and Transceiver Options

Optical fiber in cellular infrastructure was first deployed in the 80s -- much the same time that fiber was also creeping into wireline networks for the first time. Then as now, the primary driver for fiber deployment was bandwidth demand, which will soon take a great leap forward as 5G cellular replaces older generations of cellular technology. What is being proposed in the 5G project is a cellular platform that can support 10 Gbps to mobile devices (needed for 4K and 8K video) and a two-order of magnitude increase in the number of devices connected to the cellular network (needed for the Internet of Things).

Linked to this expansive 5G vision (especially the video applications) are demanding latency requirements – not exceeding 1 ms. To top it all, 5G networks are expected to be considerably more energy efficient than the cellular generations that came before.

Optical Solutions for 5G Backhaul and Midhaul: No Surprises

By common consent this kind of network upgrade can only be achieved with extensive fiberization. In the past, fiber in cellular infrastructure was used only occasionally and mostly to connect cell sites to Mobile Switching Centers (MSCs) over a mobile backhaul network. Indeed, before 3G cellular, fiber wasn’t used much at all – copper-based TDM sufficed in the backhaul.

With 5G, the backhaul network will be strategically transformed. For the backhaul, cellular carriers will now be using packet-based transport over fiber increasingly, although there are going still be some copper and radio. Fiber may now be the technology of choice in the backhaul, but in some cases, environmental, regulatory, and time-to-market considerations work against fiber. More importantly, the fiberization of the fronthaul and midhaul segments of the mobile infrastructure is proceeding apace. Midhaul is the part of the mobile infrastructure that connects remote radio heads directly to the backhaul network.

Optical backhaul and midhaul invariably use SMF transport and generally backhaul infrastructure otherwise just reflects the technology being used in metro and regional wireline networks, which are quite similar in various ways to backhaul networks:

• Some backhaul infrastructure stretches hundreds of kilometers and today most longhaul backhaul links uses 100G in CFP modules either with or without an EDFA. More typically, 5G backhaul extends over a few tens of kilometers and the choice of transceiver technology is a little broader
• That said, 100G QSFP28 is very common with the ER variant being chosen for above 20 km to 40 km. For the backhaul/midhaul application, QSFP is chosen over CFP because of the massive difference in power consumption – QSFP consumes under 4w, while CFP is almost 30w
• Optical backhaul is already taking baby steps to the next generation, with 200G QSFP56 modules being offered specifically for backhaul/midhaul applications. No doubt 400G will follow 200G into this market.

Fronthaul Optics: The Rise of 25G

Fronthaul is generally the link between the core controller and the radio head or small cell. It also needs optical networking to fulfill its functional mission. Here, the fiber connects up the remote radio heads (RRUs) and the baseband units (BBUs). The growing interest in the fronthaul is also due in part to the use of the relatively new C-RAN architectures for 5G infrastructure, which has heavy and costly bandwidth requirements, that are creating significant new opportunities for fiber optic deployments. These opportunities are not just at 10G and 100G, but also at the relatively new 25G data rate. The fronthaul network, of course, represent significant costs for the 5G service providers, but these transceiver/optical networking costs can be justified since C-RANs can reduce cell site civil engineering costs, power consumption and maintenance.

The first inclination for a 5G service provider is to try out 10G transceivers for front haul because of their very low cost. Typically, the 10G module that is deployed in this market DWDM SFP, which can extend up to 40 km in its ER variant and up to 70 km in its ZR variant. When this isn’t enough data rate, 100G transceivers may offer a solution. However, what seems to be emerging as an optimal fronthaul solution is a 25G infrastructure.

There are several reasons why 25G optics is on the rise in 5G. One is that for some fronthaul applications 100G is overkill, while 10G doesn’t offer enough bandwidth. The advantages of 25G in mobile infrastructure is notably that 25G is lower cost because it uses an SFP format (SFP28), unlike the inherently more costly QSFP28 transceivers used for 100G.

The 25G transceivers that we are talking about in the previous paragraph consist of of the garden variety of SR, ER and LR transceivers. However, there is another potential – and more interesting use of 25G technology for 5G. About a year ago, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) released the first version of the specification on the Ethernet Common Public Radio Interface (eCPRI) used for 5G fronthaul, which will be used for 5G fronthaul interface. Based on the current literature, eCPRI may well be implemented over 25G WDM-PON, but a standard 25G transceiver can also handle eCPRI. This networking type is likely to be used in this application because it provides important benefits including low latency, fiber savings, plug-and-play Optical Network Units (ONUs), and simplified Operation and Maintenance (O&M).

Aspects of Third Party Providers

While one could perhaps make a similar comment about other kinds of service providers, we think that 5G carriers may be especially drawn to third-party suppliers for various reasons, but there are two reasons that seem especially powerful.

• First, despite all the ballyhoo, 5G is a somewhat risky prospect, so it makes sense to keep infrastructure costs very low. Third-party transceiver suppliers can help make that so. Specifically, with 5G being risky and service providers wanting to reduce cost, they can leverage their existing infrastructure by using WDM (possibly CWDM) solutions that third party suppliers can offer. No one really knows if all the additional services that 5G promises are services that the customer really wants. We can, for example, already get HD movies on our 4G phones, so can a huge upgrade of cell phone infrastructure be cost justified so that we can get ultra-HD movies?
• Also, with 5G at such an early stage of deployment, no one really knows for sure what the infrastructure “should” look like in any given geography. This is another reason to keep costs low; some transceivers may actually end up being thrown away. Conversely, some parts of the infrastructure may have to be expanded rapidly to meet unexpected demand and third-party transceiver firms have a good reputation for getting transceivers to customers rapidly.

All of the transceivers that we discuss above are available from third-party sources and we suspect that 5G service providers will use the third-party channel for at least part of their transceiver needs going forward.

Contact our global sales team for more information or checkout our solutions page for all your industry needs.

info@prolabs.com

Testing: An Essential for 400G Third-Party Optics

There are differences of opinion about when exactly it will happen, but the next big thing in networking will be 400G connectivity. By common consent, millions of 400 Gbps switch ports have been shipped in the past couple of years and they will start to be populated in earnest by 2020. The shift from 100G to 400G represents a welcome boost in bandwidth, in an era of bandwidth-hungry streaming video and hyperscale data centers. Yet 400G also presents challenge, notably in terms of its complex modulation scheme.

Testing is quickly becoming a major requirement for successful implementation of 400G transceivers – an issue that separates the sheep from the goats when customers choose among third-party transceivers. In light of all this, ProLabs has set up a strict testing regime for 400G modules to ensure trouble-free use of its 400G products and maintains a fully functional testing center at its facility.

Modulation Matters

Transceivers below 100G use simple modulation schemes. 100G brought more complex modulation schemes capable of transmitting multiple bits at once. PAM4, the scheme chosen for most 400G networking, is even more complex by combining two bits into a single symbol with four amplitude levels. PAM4 modules can provide a given data rate at half the frequency effectively doubling the network throughout and reducing power consumption.

For all of these advantages, PAM4 creates challenges in terms of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), effectively reducing transceiver reach. In 400G, there is a much greater need for forward error correction (FEC) to mitigate the loss of signal integrity. These issues make module testing essential and third-party suppliers that are not capable of providing this testing are at risk in providing low quality products to their customers and losing these customers in the process.

Testing 400G

While 400G testing could be left to third-party testing firms, ProLabs thinks that this area is too important “to leave to the experts.” Not only does maintaining an in-house testing facility demonstrate ProLabs’s commitment to quality, but it ensures that modules can be speedily shipped to customers without some third-party acting as a roadblock. Fast shipping to customers is believed to be one of the factors that pushes customers towards using a third-party transceiver source in the first place.

None the less, testing of 400G modules is complicated. Unlike the testing of earlier generations of transceivers, it focuses less on whether there are errors than on whether the levels of errors are acceptable. Some 400G transceivers operate error-free post-FEC and others will not. A more sophisticated understanding of the error distribution and statistics is required in 400G modules than in earlier transceivers to ensure that error patterns are acceptable and what the root causes are of the errors that do occur. In addition, FEC functionality is itself complex and needs to be tested for both logical errors as well as dynamic power performance.

No measurements possible on the signal after the channel without de-embedding!

• Effect of the channel must be de-embedded. This can either be done using a VNA or a DSO

No longer can testing be confined to just one of the layers, but it must cover the link from the physical layer through to Ethernet. Test results must be able to reconcile where the issues lie and fully validate the margin implications of the FEC channel.

400G Testing at ProLabs

The ProLabs testing lab includes a MultiLane BERT tester, which is essential to much of the testing regime outlined above. There is also a Digital Sampling Oscilloscope (DSO) which can help testing waveforms and whether – in a given module – the electronics is behaving in a way that guarantees efficient information transmission from the module across the network. The testing lab also provides ways of testing how well a 400G transceiver behaves in a network. This includes having Juniper, Cisco and Arista 400G switches in which the 400G transceivers can be tried out. And there is also an EXFO 400G traffic generator, which can be used to test 400G transceivers in simulated traffic conditions, in other words to see how well the 400G transceiver will perform on a network link.

The modulation changes from 100G to 400G are profound and necessitate a significant leap forward in terms of testing at the supplier level – and that includes third-party suppliers. If a customer buys 400G modules from a supplier that does not have its own testing lab, it risks getting poorly performing modules and perhaps – to add insult to injury – receiving them with extended lead times.

Contact our global sales team for more information on our testing capabilities.

info@prolabs.com

Tustin, California, US, and Cirencester, UK, March 9, 2020: ProLabs, a global leader in optical networking and connectivity solutions, today expands next-generation 400G network capabilities with the launch of its new transceiver solutions to address rising network capacity demands.

Increasing 5G traffic is placing pressure on network operators to upgrade their current infrastructure. To address these challenges and meet the capacity demands, both now and in the future, ProLabs latest transceiver - the QSFP28-DD 2x100G - enables operators to increase port-density, solve interoperability issues between current and future infrastructure and minimize infrastructure investments.

“For network operators to excel in a competitive market, it is imperative to deliver high-quality, high-capacity network connectivity in line with growing customer expectations,” said Patrick Beard, Chief Technology Officer at ProLabs. “Doing so, requires investment in next-generation 400G infrastructure whilst also keeping costs to a minimum to protect the bottom line. Our latest transceiver solution allows networks to increase capacity while reducing upgrade costs to provide flexibility for the future.”

As data centers and network operators move to 400G to offer higher data rates, significant interoperability issues have risen with current network infrastructures - forcing entire systems to be replaced at a huge cost. The new ProLabs QSFP-DD 2x 100G transceiver utilizes two Non-Return to Zero (NRZ) connections and is compatible with many existing transceivers, offering large scale operators the ability to invest while minimizing cost.

Beard added: “We are delighted to be launching the QSFP-DD 2x 100G at OFC 2020. The solution will provide more operators with a transceiver-based option to combat the challenges of interoperability. It will make a significant difference to avoid the replacement of entire systems and the costs that come with it.”

ProLabs QSFP28-DD 2x100G transceivers utilize the new high-density CS® connector to hand off two 100G NRZ connections to the network and are interoperable with existing 100G-CWDM4, 100G-LR4, and 100G-4WDM10 transceivers. 2x100G transceivers offer large scale operators the ability to invest in the relief of network bottlenecks, reduce overhead expense and provide flexibility for the future.

ProLabs will launch its latest solution at the OFC Technical Conference from March 8-12, 2020.

For more information about the ProLabs new QSFP-DD 2x 100G transceiver, please visit the ProLabs website or email prolabs@proactive-pr.com.

Media Contact
Proactive International PR Ltd
prolabs@proactive-pr.com

Strong networks depend on certified OEM coding for continual reliability.

With quality and reliability of service as the primary objectives for many networking projects, it’s important to know your optics have the specifications needed to keep your systems up and running. Coding is one of the most important facets to consider to ensure successful deployment of a dependable and fast network.

There’s no room for error when coding optics, especially with hundreds of different OEM switches in various environments, each with different complexities and intricacies to remain aware of. With all components in your network requiring constant communication with each other, one wrong code could potentially cause costly time-sensitive delays.

ProLabs goes the extra mile in ensuring we code your optics with the most up-to-date codes and system requirements. From over 20 years of developing, testing, and engineering standard to unique custom coding solutions for our clients, we truly understand the importance of delivering certified compatibility and interoperability. Most importantly, we understand what our clients need to avoid the pitfalls of working with inexperienced optics suppliers.

1) What are the most frequently reported quality issues from other third-party suppliers?

Based on studies, quality issues most frequently found are related to reliability, compatibility, and interoperability. Coding is reported as the biggest issue with optics reading as the wrong part and receiving messages of “unsupported data”. This can cause network delays and system reboots, taking up critical time and possibly needing a system engineer to triage.

We understand the importance of quality and take measured steps in our manufacturing and testing processes. Our optics are coded and tested in its intended environment so that it functions 100% the same as an OEM version. Compatibility is key to ensure a seamless connection with no downtime. Known coding issues from some third-party suppliers: Sample products tested include common transceiver types such as SFP LX, QSFP LR4, SFP+ DWDM and a variety of DACs and AOCs.

Feedback for these parts in Cisco and other OEM systems is read as:

Transceivers –

Wrong part number shown in the EEPROM

• Consequence: Certain features may not be supported, and additional configuration may be required.

No “PID” displays

• Consequence: The switch may not recognize the part and can lead to disabled ports. Alternatively, the product may work now but future OEM software updates may cause failures down the road.

Displays "Non-Cisco" (Or other OEM)

• Consequence: When a part shows as a non-Cisco part or other non-OEM part it may render the port unusable and a replacement or recoded transceiver is needed.

Receive "UNSUPPORTED" message upon inserting in any switch ports

• Consequence: If the switch reads the part as non-compatible it may not be usable. Recoding or a replacement transceiver is again required.

DACs and AOCs –

Wrong part number shown in the EEPROM

• Consequence: Certain features may not be supported, and additional configuration may be required.

No “PID” displays

• Consequence: The switch may not recognize the part and can lead to disabled ports

No DOM reporting available on AOCs in multiple platforms

• Consequence: The lack of reporting may limit troubleshooting and monitoring capabilities

Module SPROM display 0 meters

• Consequence: The lack of detail may cause issues with troubleshooting and monitoring capabilities.

2) What happens if an optic is not coded correctly?

Miscoding a transceiver can have a number of unintended and costly side effects. Sometimes the effects are minor, such as a nice to have feature not being supported. Other times, the OEM switch won’t recognize the part as even compatible, thus rendering the port unusable until the transceiver is swapped out or recoded.

A rare but potentially devastating case is that the EEPROM can be missing password protection, leading to data corruption if an OEM switch accidentally overwrites part of the pre-installed coding. In turn, this breaks the transceiver, requiring replacement before that port is usable again. Any power surges or failures requires your infrastructure’s hardware to reboot, meaning poorly coded transceivers all run the risk of bringing down mission-critical networks in this way or worse.

All of these headaches are avoided by understanding end user needs and coding a product that avoids these pitfalls, which is exactly the value that our vast end user experience allows us to add to our transceivers that sets us a cut above other competitors.

3) What happens to the optic when there are revisions or updates to the OEM software?

Other suppliers’ optics may work out-of-the box, but revisions and changes to software can cause the parts to ultimately fail. We are constantly researching firmware upgrades and implementing them to maintain an up to date database. Our in-house coding facility programs all our parts to standard OEM specs as well as creating unique, one-of-a-kind coding for customized networking solutions. With over 20 years of coding knowledge and experience, we have refined a database of compatible programming that is unrivaled. Additionally, our proprietary Data Traveler System™ tracks and serializes every part to make sure it has gone through the proper coding and testing required. From keeping our lab systems up to date with the latest software to a pre-code hardware inspection, we create a solution that is guaranteed for long lasting compatibility and performance.

ProLabs certifies our optics are fully compatible on deployment. Request a quote or contact us to learn more today!

Today’s media converters are much more than a simple LAN extension device. Media converter technology has evolved to offer cost-effective solutions to network challenges.

As the name implies, media converters allow for two different network media types to connect. Media converters are perhaps best known for connecting twisted-pair copper with fiber optics in a classic LAN environment. In this scenario, the media converter presents the various physical media interfaces (RJ-45 for copper and LC connectors for fiber) for connection to the network cabling. The media converter seamlessly connects the fiber and copper networks to one another.

As mentioned at the onset of this post, today’s media converters offer much more to network operators than a simple device; they offer support for multiple media conversion applications:

• Fiber to Copper / Copper to Fiber – This is the classic media converter application used most often to extend an Ethernet connection beyond the limitations of twisted pair copper.
• Fiber to Fiber – Media converters offer options to convert connections between single mode and multimode fiber, a duplex fiber pair and single fiber, or between two fiber pairs in a network transponder application.
• Copper to Copper – Media converters also offer solutions for connecting copper media. Should the network require extending a copper connection beyond 100 meters, a media converter is a valid option.

Media converters offer this vast functionality through the presentation of media interfaces. The first generation of media converters were not modular in design. Media converters had fixed features, for example, the copper interface was likely a 10BaseT, RJ45 connector while the fiber side may have been multi-mode fiber ST connector. The current generation of media converters provide the flexibility offered by a transceiver slot to mix and match transceiver options to the network requirement. The transceiver slots can be found on the fiber side or on both sides of the media converter. The transceiver ports may support 1G, 10/100/1000, and 10G data rates, as well as fiber connection distances of 80KM and longer!

Today’s media converters maintain the classic small footprint for ubiquitous deployments, including desktops, wire closets, and data centers. Most recently, media converters offer additional value-add features to meet a wide variety of network applications:

• Industrial temperature media converters are rated for the industrial temperature range (-40C to +85C) and can be DIN rail or wall mounted.
• Rackmount chassis – Many media converters can be stand-alone units or be installed into a rack-mount chassis for density and cable management.
• Managed – for higher value links, media converters offering management capabilities integrated into existing management systems.
• Power-over-Ethernet – POE media converters have POE injectors built into the unit to provide local power over video surveillance or phone applications.

Once the domain of LAN environments, media converters have found life as essential networking tools in an array of environments, providing the flexibility for administrators to choose the option that best fits each unique scenario. Look for a manufacturer that can provide a breadth of choices and offer expertise in choosing the best fit for each use case.

To learn more about media converter options, view ProLabs media converter brochure.

Content written by Americas Product Manager, Ray Hagen

Universities are adjusting to the influx of e-learning and tele-education in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are complex and varying digital infrastructure components that need to function properly to support the day-to-day operations of a university, from enrollment, to payment, to online coursework, to library and databases, research, web applications for learning, and more.

In previous articles, we have shared how our ‘new normal’ is impacting other verticals and adding pressure to internet and bandwidth requirements. For example, service providers are re-evaluating their IT infrastructures and upgrading to scale as the world’s internet bandwidth is pushed to the brink. Similarly, universities are adapting to shifts in the following scenarios.

• Upstream connections – As students stream content from the internet to support their e-learning activities, this adds importance to mission-critical upstream connections versus traditional focus on downstream. Universities need to adjust by developing new student engagement platforms such as virtual campus visits, new student orientation, and collaboration tools to provide their students with robust learning opportunities. This all leads to further reliance on cloud communication and collaboration platforms.
• Security – Users access university networks from the outside which exposes potential network security gaps. Now, more than ever, medical university research is likely contributing to potential treatments, vaccines, and maybe even a cure for COVID-19 which adds a newfound importance to understanding why university network administrators should not overlook upgrades to further secure their network infrastructure.
• Operational intelligence -- With these abrupt changes taking place in our current landscape, you may be asking what the future holds for universities. From the current crisis, we have learned that public health depends on contact tracing to head off future virus outbreaks within communities. We posit that university infrastructures will also need to scale to support operational intelligence models which can support contact tracing efforts through multiple modalities – video, mobile device data, and applications.

ProLabs is currently working with universities to help solve for their questions and challenges. Here are a few of the recent questions we have heard from universities along with our recommendations.

• How can we create state-of-the-art networks for our future needs? Many large universities use 100G and 200G DWDM networks, with 100G drops. They are also moving to 400G at the core to 100G at each building. ProLabs transceivers range from 1G to 400G as well as our direct attach cables (DACs) and active optical cables (AOCs). We also have a variety of multi-code options, media converters, fiber patch cables, and accessories to support your growth and infrastructure transitions.

• How can we save money without sacrificing quality? ProLabs third-party compatibles are a phenomenal alternative to OEM devices without sacrificing quality. Our quality commitment is demonstrated through our Data Traveler System™. With a less than .02% failure rate, we can be trusted more so than any other compatible vendor.

• How can we support an environment with multiple platforms and vendors? ProLabs offers multi-code solutions to address your interoperability challenges. Network deployments often mix switches, servers, load balancers, or storage appliances from multiple OEM vendors. We multi-code DAC and AOC options to address the challenge of network interoperability by providing cables that are compatible with multiple OEMs.

Whether you are working on a campus network upgrade or other IT infrastructure project, you should be aware of the evolving connectivity demands and challenges. ProLabs can provide you with expert advice and the right solutions no matter your project size or complexity.

Reach out to us today. Email sales@prolabs.com.

The beginning of a new year may bring with it resolutions to live a healthier lifestyle, to spend more time with family or to take up a new hobby. For our industry, the resolution may be that 2020 is the year that 400G moves out of the lab and into mass production!

ProLabs has been tracking trends in 400G to understand how transceiver technology will impact our customers. The development of 400G has followed a similar path of 100G adoption. The adoption of the QSFP28 form factor drove the adoption of 100G by offering high density and lower power consumption in comparison to other technologies on the market. Early name brand and white box OEM entrants are deploying the QSFP56-DD (or QSFP-DD) form factor in first generation switch models. In addition to the common QSFP transceiver footprint, the QSFP-DD also exhibits a relatively lower power consumption in comparison to other 400G transceiver technologies.

Below is a video highlighting part 1 of 2 on what you need to know about 400G:

The OSFP and CFP8 form factors will not necessarily go the way of the HD DVD, but will likely remain a complementary part of the 400G equation to meet applications not supported by QSFP-DD. As is the case with QSFP8 form factor, the QSFP-DD form factor has physical space constraints that limit internal components for longer links or coherent optics operations.

400G transceiver standards have developed to meet link distances and architecture demands of today’s high-performance networks. The first standards widely deployed will take advantage of PAM4 modulation to leverage existing network architectures.

Additional 400G transceiver standards are in development that will offer more options for data center interconnect and to aggregate 100G and 200G into 400G core networks.

400G is here: ProLabs’ resolution is to help network operators understand this new technology and the implications 400G upgrades have on the network.

Contact us today to see how ProLabs can help with 400G upgrades on your network.

Written by Ray Hagen, Product Line Manager