トランシーバーとケーブルのテスト

Transceivers & cables come in a multitude of formats and are a ubiquitous part of most networks and server rooms. Small form-factor (SFP) and enhanced small form-factor pluggable (SFP+) transceivers remain the standard for 1GE and 10GE Ethernet but are making way for the next generation that support speeds up to 800GE such as QSFP-DD and OSFP.

Similarly, network cabling remains an intrinsic part of connecting devices in Local Area Networks (LANs). The performance and reliability of twisted pair, coaxial and fiber optic cables can determine the same parameters of the network. In data centers Active Electrical Cables (AEC) are being used for short distance, inter-rack connections because they typically are more power and cost effective than optical cables.

The main difference between active and passive (Direct Attach Cables, DAC) electrical cables is that the active cables include active components like equalizers, re-timers, and amplifiers which help counteract signal degradations and enable transmission of very high-speed signals over several meters.

Both transceivers, passive and active cables must be tested with focus on the physical Layer 1 but, also Layer 2 and 3 type testing is relevant.

Developing new components obviously involves validation and debugging, and once the products are in production quality assurance and production testing becomes mandatory and an essential part of installation and troubleshooting in data centers.