1. Optimizing the Data Centre Physical Layer in the Era of the Cloud
Scott Gregg
Marketing Director, Asia Pacific
Corning Optical Communications
24 May 2017

2. Let’s Talk About…..
We all know that that the growth of the “Cloud” is drastically altering the data centre landscape
How is it altering what is happening at the data centre physical layer?
Fibre, fibre, fibre…….

3. Physical Layer Evolution
Speed
Distance
Density
Fibre type
Cabling & connectivity designs

4. Hyperscale Data Centres By the Numbers
100’s of meters
1000’s of racks
10,000’s of servers
100,000’s of ports
40G, 100G & beyond

5. Speed

6. Ethernet Speed Map
Source:

7. Ethernet Optical Transceiver Roadmap
Solution
Reach
40G
100G
400G
Duplex
OM3/4
Short
BiDi
WDM (Univ)
SWDM
???
Parallel
Short and Mid
SR4/eSR4 4x10G
Gen1: SR10 10x10G
Gen2: SR4/eSR4 4x25G
Gen1: SR16 16x25G
Gen2: SR4 4x100G SM
Long
LR4 (10 km)
LRL4 (2 km)
CWDM4 (2 km)
WDM(10 km)
WDM (2 km)
Mid
PLR4
PSM4
PLR4 (500 m)
(4 x 100, 50 Gbaud PAM4)
Green text = included in current IEEE standard
40G & 100G now available in 2 & 8 fibre solutions
Future out to 400G is dominated by 2 & 8 fibre transceivers

8. 400G Multimode Fibre (MMF) Variants
First Generation Standards Guidance to utilize 32F Parallel Optics (2017)
Tx 16x25G and Rx 16x25G (NRZ)
32F MPO Connector, Double Array
Minimal traction expected with AOC primary use
(Pending) Second Generation Expected to Utilize 8F Parallel Optics with WDM (2019)
Tx 4x100G and Rx 4x100G
Two wavelengths at 25Gbaud PAM4
Four wavelengths at 25Gbaud NRZ
8/12F MPO Connector
Deployed as pluggable module / embedded optics for core to edge uplinks and breakouts
2x16 format
1x12 or 8
format
Source: USConec

9. 400G Single-Mode Fibre (SMF) Variants
At least 500 m: 8F Parallel Optics
Tx 4x100G and Rx 4x100G (50Gbaud PAM4)
8F or 12F MPO Connector
At least 2 km: 2F Serial Optics
8x50G WDM (25Gbaud PAM4)
2F LC Connector
At least 10 km: 2F Serial Optics

10. Distance

11. Source: Corning Optical Communications
Link Cost Versus Distance for 40 GbE: Multimode Versus Single-Mode Usage in the Data Centre
Multimode fibre most cost effective for lengths < 150 m
Source: Corning Optical Communications

12. Enterprise Deployments Only
Source: Corning shipment data

13. Enterprise + Hyperscale Deployments
Source: Corning shipment data

14. OM4 System Length

15. Single-Mode System Length

16. Single-Mode Hyperscale only

17. Density

18. Spine & Leaf Network Architectures
Meshed architecture to reduce latency within the data centre
Requires large amounts of connectivity between spine layer & switch layer
Drives need for high density cabling & connectivity solutions
Need for density also encourages use of:
Network monitoring tap components integrated into structured cabling

19. Significant Connectivity Required for Spine & Leaf Architectures Cross Connect Design for 16-Way Spine
Trunks to TOR
Harnesses to Spine Switch
(192) 72F Cables
(1024) 12F Harnesses
16 Spine Switches
192 Leaf Switches
Port Map
Port Map
Leaf BOM for 100% Population
Housings: (24) 4U housings
Modules: (1,152) 12F MTP-LC modules
Cables: (192) 72F MTP trunk cables
Spine BOM for 100% Population
Housings: (22) 4U housings
Modules: (1,024) 12F MTP-LC modules
Module Harnesses: (1,024) 12F MTP-LC harnesses
Patch Cords: (6,144) 2F LC patch cords
Leaf Frame
Leaf Frame
Spine Frame
Spine Frame

20. High Density Cabling and Connectivity
Trunk cables terminated with MTP connectors up to 864-fibres
Significant deployment time savings compared to field terminated solutions
Single-mode or OM4 fibre
Indoor/outdoor cables
4U housings:
576-fibre capacity for LC
2,304-fibre capacity for MTP
Useable density
Individual port access via sliding trays

21. Tapping Solution Not Integrated into Structured Cabling
Main Distribution Area (MDA)
EDA
Elec
Con
Tap Area
Structured Cabling Area
Channel Link
Patch Cord
Patch Cord
Patch Cord
Patch Cord
Monitor Device

22. Tapping Solution Integrated into the Structured Cabling
Main Distribution Area (MDA)
EDA
Elec
Con
Tap Area
Structured Cabling Area
Channel Link
Patch Cord
Patch Cord
Tap Harness
Monitor Device

23. Summary: Optimizing the Physical Layer in the Cloud Era
Speed
100G commonly used in the cloud today; 400G is on the horizon
Distance
Higher network speeds + longer distances are driving fibre type changes
Single-mode becoming more prominent
Multimode still most cost effective for 100G links up to 100 m
Density
The proliferation of connectivity needs for spine & leaf architectures means density is critical in all parts of the physical layer
High fibre count MTP connectorized trunks
High density connectivity solutions in the rack
Integrating network monitoring taps into the physical layer