Optical Link Cards (OLC) & Gigabaud Link Modules (GLM)

Introduction

Three types of standard interface cards exist to convert 8b10b coded parallel data into a serial stream on a fibre: The first two types of cards integrate the key functions necessary for installation of a fibre channel media interface on most systems. They provide complete fibre channel FC-0 functionality on easy to install daughter cards. Included are transmit and receive optics, drivers, clock and data recovery, serializer, deserializer and laser safety features. The optical interface is via FC standard dual SC receptables. The GLM specification (1 MByte postscript) can be found at the server of Sun.

Another effort is underway to specify a new interface standard. This one is called 10-Bit Interface Specification. The fundamental goal of this new specification is to define a common, standard signaling interface between FC Physical and Protocol layers for 1062.5 Mbaud target applications. The specification is primarily developed for electrical (not optical) connections in FC-AL (Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop) applications, but not restricted only to FC-AL applications. A second goal in defining a minimum conforming set of features is to minimize the complexity of the physical layer function thus reducing cost and power in these devices.

This 10-bit interface specification is generated by an Ad Hoc group of interested companies committed to providing a standard low cost interface for FC-AL applications. This Ad Hoc group is sanctioned by and operates under the jursidiction of X3T11 Fibre Channel committee. Currently the specification is only at the draft level, version 0.30. The postscript and framemaker versions of the document can be found at the server of Western Digital.

Fibre Channel has different options for the driving of the Fibre and for the type of media used. These different FC-0 technology options have different speed and distance abilities. Most cards available use the 780 nm laser option with multimode cabling. KFKI/RMKI is the only company making OLCs with electrical output. Electrical versions of GLMs are sold by Vitesse.

The Optical Link Cards use 10 bits of coded data and a 48 pin connector. OLCs are available for 266 and 531 Mbps operation. The Gigabaud Link Modules can use 20 bits of coded data and use an 80 pin connector. GLM's are available for operation from 266 Mbps to 1 Gbps. The Fibre Channel Systems Initiative has made the GLM specification (see "FC Specifications"). GLMs are recommended for new applications as they provide more functionality and are better specified than the OLCs. 


Devices

The following manufacturers provide OLC or GLM cards. For an explanation of the technology options nomenclature, see "FC-0 technology options".

OLC: Optical Link Cards

GLM: Gigabaud Link Modules

OLC: Optical Link Cards


Finisar

531 OLC: 531 Mbps, 830 nm (50-M5-SL-I)

Contact: Finisar Corporation, 3515 Edison Way, Menlo Park, California 94025, Tel: +1 415 364 2722, Fax: +1 415 364 3041 


Hewlett Packard

HOLC-0266: 780 nm (25-M5-SL-I)

See also HP's Fiber Channel Components page

Contact: Schuhmacher, HP (Schweiz) AG, Tel: +41 1 735 79 39 / 71 11, Fax: +41 1 735 77 00 / 77 10 - 8-Dec-1997 


IBM

OLC-266 780 nm (25-M5-SL-I)

OLC-531 780 nm (50-M5-SL-I)

Contact: Markus Zischg, IBM Switzerland, Tel: +41 1 436 7671, Fax: +41 1 436 6262, E-m: chibmf5k@ibmmail.com.
Chuck Masog, IBM Optical Interconnect technology, Tel: +1 507 253 5554, Fax: +1 507 253 1438, E-m: C_MASOG@vnet.ibm.com 


KFKI/RMKI

ELC-266: (25-TV/MI/TP-EL-S), Electrical

Contact: Gyorgy Rubin, KFKI - RMKI, Research Institute for Solid State Physics, H-1525 Budapest, POB 49, Hungary, E-m: Rubin@cern.ch, Tel: +361 169 65 75, Fax: +361 169 53 80 


Siemens

OC-25-LE-C18: 266 Mbps, 1300 nm LED (25-M6-LE-I)

This OLC from Siemens has the option of doing the 8b10b coding and decoding, which can simplify the logic on the main card. The cards from other manufacturers don't have this functionality.

Contact: Schelto van Doorn, Siemens Fiber Optic Components Group, Tel : +1 408 982 1981, Fax : +1 408 980 8350, E-m : 465-1880@mcimail.com

Marketing: Uwe Schmidt, Siemens Germany, Tel: +49 30 386 26317, Fax: +49 30 386 27956
Application Engineer: Prediger, Siemens Germany, Tel: +49 30 386 29017, Fax: +49 30 386 24939


GLM: Gigabaud Link Modules


Finisar

1062 GLM

Contact: Finisar Corporation - 7-Jan-1998


Fujikura

FLM-1062 Optical Gigabit Module (100-M5-SL-I)

Contact:
Pricing, Mike Morando, Tel: +1 408/988-7408, Fax: +1 408/727-3460, E-mail: morando@fujikura.com.
Technical support, Bob Dahlgren, Tel: +1 408/988-7407, Fax: +1 408/727-3460, E-mail: bob@fujikura.com - 14-Aug-1996 


Gore

Copper Gigabaud Link Module FCN 7181

Gore's FCN 7181 Copper Gigabaud Link Module (CuGLM) allows serial transmission at 1.0625 Gbit/sec. over differential twin-ax cable, or over Gore's new ultra-balanced full duplex cable. In conjunction with Gore's cable assembly, the CuGLM is a cost effective way to utilize the Fibre Channel Specification for transmission lengths under 50 meters. In Fibre Channel terms, this module would be called 100- TP-EL-S, although 50 meter at this speed in an electrical version is not part of the standard.

This is a cooperative effort betweem Gore and Vitesse.

Contact: W.L. Gore & Associates - 7-Jan-1998


Hewlett Packard

HGLM-0531 780 nm (50-M5-SL-I)

HGLM-1063 780 nm (100-M5-SL-I) 780nm OFC GLM

HGLM-1563 780nm non-OFC GLM

HGLM-2063 1300nm 2 km OFC GLM

HGLM-0063 Copper GLM with DB9 connector

See HP's Fiber Channel Components page

Contact: Schuhmacher, HP (Schweiz) AG, Tel: +41 1 735 79 39 / 71 11, Fax: +41 1 735 77 00 / 77 10 - 9-Dec-1997 


IBM

OLM-266 780 nm (25-M5-SL-I)

OLM-531 780 nm (50-M5-SL-I)

OLM-1063 780 nm (100-M5-SL-I)

IBM is also looking at a OLM-1063 long wave product (100-SM-LL-I).

Contact: Markus Zischg, IBM Switzerland, Tel: +41 1 436 7671, Fax: +41 1 436 6262, E-m: chibmf5k@ibmmail.com.
Chuck Masog, IBM Optical Interconnect technology, Tel: +1 507 253 5554, Fax: +1 507 253 1438, E-m: C_MASOG@vnet.ibm.com 


Methode Electronics, Inc.

MGLM-1063: 780 nm or 850 nm (100-M5-SL-I)

According to Methode Electronics the MGLM-1063 offers the lowest power consumption of any GLM on the market (August 1995).

Methode modules are offered with a choice of 780nm or 850 nm laser and are available with or without open fiber control and have integral self diagnostics for monitoring by the host system and can be used for link analysis, system administration and future fault prediction.

Contact: Tricia Kelly, Methode Electronics; Tel: +1-708-867-9600 ext 368; Fax: +1-708-867-9130, E-m: info@methode.com;
or in Europe, Methode Mikon Ltd., UK, Fax: +44-440-71-2542. - 23-July-1997 


Siemens

SGLC-1062-L: 1 Gbps 1300 nm (100-SM-LL-I) single mode up to 10 km

Model number TC1000GLC, Part number V23808-G1320-C1

Features transmitter

Features receiver

Siemens has as well another Fibre Channel module which accepts unencoded 32-bits data. This Gibabaud Module has a small footprint and integrated optics. It is not OLC or GLM compatible, but can be useful in applications where unencoded data is available and where a robust module is needed.

Contact: Schelto van Doorn, Siemens Fiber Optic Components Group, Tel : +1 408 982 1981, Fax : +1 408 980 8350, E-m : 465-1880@mcimail.com

Marketing: Uwe Schmidt, Siemens Germany, Tel: +49 30 386 26317, Fax: +49 30 386 27956
Application Engineer: Prediger, Siemens Germany, Tel: +49 30 386 29017, Fax: +49 30 386 24939 


Vitesse

VSC7181 (100- TP-EL-S) Electrical, 1 Gbps upto 50 meter (not in standard)

It is a "copper GLM", which is abbreviated as CuGLM.

Features

See also Gore for a description of the module.

Contact: Vitesse Semiconductor Corp. France - Dieter Doring; Tel: +33 1 3975 6310; Fax: +33 1 3975 2062 


Vixel Corporation

MIM1063G non-OFC GLM

Contact: Vixel; Tel: +1 425/806-5509; Fax+1 425/806-4050; E-mail: marketing@seattle.vixel.com - 7-Jan-1998 

CERN - High Speed Interconnect - FCS
Erik van der Bij - 7 January 1998 - Disclaimer