Tektronix offers SFP+ automated test and debug via DP0/DSA/MSO70000 Series oscilloscopes/Omnitron offers 10G media converter for repeater, wavelength transponder applicationsOmnitron offers 10G media converter for repeater, wavelength transponder applicationsOmnitron offers 10G media converter for repeater, wavelength transponder applications

Tektronix Inc. has introduced what it asserts is the first comprehensive automated test and debug offering for SFF-8431, SFP+ PHY, and SFP+ Direct Attach Cable Specifications "10GSFP+CU" Measurements. The new TEKEXP SFP-TX option for Tektronix’s DPO/DSA/MSO70000 Series oscilloscopes are designed to help users easily select measurements for SFF-8431 SFP+ testing and perform all measurements with a single button click. All masks, limits, and measurement parameters are automatically configured, says Tektronix. Users also can change selected measurements and measurement configurations using a new standard-specific user interface. The automated measurements are designed to help engineers efficiently meet SFP+ compliance requirements and generate detailed reports. Users also can change test limits for advanced margin and performance testing, according to Tektronix. Tektronix also has added six new measurements: VMA Rise Time Tx-Qsq DDPWS Fall Time Uncorrelated Jitter (UJ). Setup files are provided based on different signal types such as 8180, PRBS9, and PRBS 31. Signal-specific setup files enable users to perform measurements on different signal types or go into analysis and debug mode, Tektronix says. "The dramatic growth in bandwidth requirements and the increasing worldwide use of high-performance servers is leading to an expanding need for 10-Gigabit Ethernet and in turn new connectivity options based on SFP+," said Roy Siegel, general manager, oscilloscopes, Tektronix. "By offering the industry's first automated and debug solution for validating SFF-8431 SFP+ devices, Tektronix helps make it easier for companies to bring new and innovative SFP+ offerings to market with assurance their products will conform to specifications and deliver optimum performance and reliability." SFP-TX is available for download now from www.tektronix.com and is designed to run on Tektronix DPO/DSA/MSO oscilloscopes with 16-GHz bandwidth and above. Omnitron Systems Technology has unveiled the new iConverter XG+ 10-Gbps media converter, a protocol-transparent unit with two pluggable transceiver ports that support Power Level 4 XFP optical transceiver modules. The iConverter XG+ therefore can function as a long-range fiber repeater or a wavelength transponder, Omnitron says. In addition to supporting Power Level 4 optical modules, which the company says is a media converter first, the iConverter XG+ also supports wavelength-tunable XFP transceivers for DWDM wavelengths. Network operators can set and save the wavelength of these tunable XFPs via the iConverter management system, which eliminates the need for external programming equipment, Omnitron adds. Omnitron has partnered with Menara Networks to add Optical Transport Network (OTN) capabilities to the iConverter 10G+ as well. Menara Networks offers XFPs with OTN capabilities embedded within the optical module (see “Menara Networks announces full C-band tunable XFP, XENPAK modules”). The capabilities include integrated ITU-T G.709 OTU-2 framing, forward error correction (FEC), automatic receiver threshold adaptation, and SBS suppression for ultra long reach applications. It also can be tuned in 50-GHz increments. Using the Menara Network XFPs, the iConverter XG+ can operate as a fiber repeater and wavelength transponder to extend OTN transmission distances over DWDM networks. The XG+ supports 100% traffic throughput and has no packet size restrictions, Omnitron asserts. It offers protocol transparency within the range of 9.95 to 11.32 Gbps, which supports such common protocols as 10 Gigabit Ethernet, 10-Gbps SONET/SDH, 10G Fibre Channel, and G.709 OTN OTU-2. iConverter XG modules are available as standalone units or chassis plug-in modules. Three interface configurations are available that support XFP to XFP, XFP to SFP+, and SFP+ to SFP+, respectively. Pluggable XFP and SFP+ transceivers are supported for multimode and singlemode applications. Copper to fiber conversion is achieved with CX4 interface XFP transceivers.