Gore Demonstrates Next Generation Active Copper Interconnects for Future Data Center Applications

05/02/2008 - 16:20

W. L. Gore & Associates (Gore), a leader in high data-rate cabling
products, today demonstrated next-generation GORE(TM) Extended Reach
Cable Assemblies. The assemblies are tailored to enable future
High-Performance Computers (HPC) to scale in size and function. The
new "active" cables deliver extended reach over thinner, lighter
copper cabling for HPC systems, Enterprise Server and Storage
applications. In collaboration with Quellan Inc., Gore hosted
demonstrations of "active," GORE(TM) Extended Reach Cable Assemblies
conforming to industry standard QSFP (4-channel) and SFP+ (2-channel)
form-factors and operating at 10Gbps/channel over a 10-meter span of
AWG28 copper cable. These new cables are designed to address numerous
next generation protocols such as InfiniBand(TM) Quad Data Rate (QDR),
40GbE, 10GbE and 8G Fibre Channel. The family of new products is
constructed with Gore´s Advanced Cable Technology and integrates
Quellan(TM) Q:ACTIVE(R) silicon technology. The complementary effects
of the combined technologies reduce link jitter, crosstalk and other
signal impairments. These new products will enable a 1RU switch
populated with 32 QSFP ports to transport up to 1.280 Tbps of data
within future clusters. GORE(TM) Extended Reach Cable Assemblies
promise to offer link distances of greater than 20m, reduce bundle
mass in crowded cable plenums while consuming 5 times less power than
fiber optic technology.

Gore´s first generation of active cable products, GORE(TM)
Extended Reach DDR InfiniBand(TM) Cable assemblies now in volume
production, have been deployed on multiple top 5 HPC systems appearing
on the TOP 500(R) list. "The introduction of this low power signal
conditioning technology has allowed us to deploy the next generation
of higher speed interconnects without impacting conventional cluster
architectures," commented Ed Turkel, manager of product marketing,
high-performance computing, HP. Building on this foundation, Gore and
Quellan have demonstrated the ability to extend this same low-power,
copper technology to meet the exponential growth in data rates
required by tomorrow´s data center.

"We´re convinced that low-power, active copper technology is best
suited to meet the evolution cycle of data center interconnects, which
is currently accelerating at the rate of Moore´s Law. To keep this
vision alive and economical, you need to employ low-risk components
and established supply chains capable of incremental evolution.
Quellan´s low-power CMOS silicon coupled with Gore´s array of advanced
cable options and global manufacturing infrastructure does just that,"
stated Eric Gaver, global business leader for Gore´s high data rate
cabling products. "We´re excited to have a copper based interconnect
roadmap that´s well aligned with the data center vision."

"We´re delighted to be a key enabling ingredient in Gore´s growing
Extended Reach cable portfolio," said Tony Stelliga, Quellan´s
Chairman and CEO. "We have an exciting array of low-power, Q:ACTIVE(R)
devices available and in development to support the rapidly evolving
data center vision with Gore. Our analog, CMOS technology is
particularly well suited to the removal of link impairments while
consuming the least amount of power and offering the lowest signal
latency available in the industry."

ABOUT W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES

Founded in 1958, W. L. Gore & Associates (Gore) has parlayed its
unique technical capabilities into hundreds of diverse products and is
world-renowned for its expertise in configuring the remarkably
versatile polymer PTFE. This has resulted in numerous products for
electronic signal transmission; fabric laminates; medical implants; as
well as membrane, filtration, sealant, and fiber technologies for
diverse industries. With over $2 billion in sales, the company is
headquartered in Delaware in the US and employs more than 7,000
associates at 45 facilities throughout the world. Gore is one of only
five companies included in every selection of Fortune Magazine´s "100
Best Companies to Work For" since the list began in 1984. Gore has
also been cited among the "Best Places to Work" in Germany, Italy and
Scotland. For more information, please call 800-445-4673,
+1-302-292-5100, +49-91-44-6010, or visit www.gore.com/electronics.

GORE(TM) and EYE-OPENER+(R) are trademarks of W. L. Gore &
Associates, Inc.

InfiniBand(TM) is a trademark of the InfiniBand Trade Association.

Quellan(TM) and Q:ACTIVE(R) are trademarks of Quellan, Inc.