As cloud service providers and telecom operators build their networks, they need to reduce costs, optimize bandwidth, and improve capacity, security, and flexibility through routing and switching platforms. Microchip Technology Inc. (Microchip Technology) today released the META-DX1 series of Ethernet PHY devices through its subsidiary Microsemi. This new series of products integrates Ethernet interfaces from 1 GbE to 400 GbE, FlexE, MACsec link encryption, and nanosecond precision timestamps in a single chip with terabit capacity, taking the lead in realizing the convergence of routing and switching functions.

Currently, the industry is upgrading from 100 GbE to 400 GbE to support the traffic needs of hyperscale data centers. According to the Global Cloud Index report released by Cisco, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of traffic between data centers will exceed 30%; in 2021, the traffic will quadruple. META-DX1 quadruples the line card capacity from 3.6 Tbps (terabit per second) to 14.4 Tbps with 36 400 GbE ports or 144 100 GbE ports, supporting the key functions required by providers.

META-DX1's MACsec security engine ensures the security of data transmission in data centers or enterprises, while FlexE optimizes the configuration of links beyond the current fixed-rate Ethernet, helping cloud and telecommunications service providers use low-cost, high-capacity optical fibers and reduce costs while meeting capacity requirements. The META-DX1 series integrates MACsec and FlexE in the same solution for the first time to meet the next stage of data center interconnect (DCI) capacity expansion needs. In addition, unlike other products, the cross-node integrated in META-DX1 has flexible switching functions, which can support a single design or SKU of 100 GbE (QSFP28) and 400 GbE (QSFP-DD) optical devices, helping OEMs transition from PAM-based 25 Gbps NRZ and 56 Gbps architectures. By providing high-performance timestamping with nanosecond accuracy on each port, META-DX1 can also ensure that network expansion can meet the strict timing requirements of 5G mobile base station deployment.

“The industry has long anticipated the challenges and limitations of traditional fixed-rate Ethernet MACs in scaling data center interconnect architectures, and created FlexE as a solution,” said Bob Wheeler, principal analyst at the Linley Group. “Microchip’s META-DX1 products provide an all-in-one solution that enables FlexE on data center routers, enabling cloud service providers to maximize fiber capacity in data centers while simplifying network operations and management.”

“The META-DX1 family is designed to unify the functions required in building communications networks through hardware and software, connecting enterprise and data center services to the cloud and emerging 5G applications,” said Babak Samimi, vice president of Microchip’s communications business unit. “By providing high-density Ethernet ports, MACsec, FlexE, and the nanosecond packet timing performance required for 5G, we have created a new Ethernet connectivity platform for routers, switches and optical transport equipment in telecom and cloud services.”