Tensilica, Design, and Verification IP Blogs

Growing deployment level of 10 Gigabit Ethernet in datacenters and automotive infotainment is driving the demand and the connectivity needs of a broad range of high-end, energy-efficient networking and computing applications.

Energy-efficient networking in server area basically means elimination of packet loss, server virtualization with support for several applications and operating systems on a server; all by defining multiple virtual machines on a single server. This provides organizations with a reduction of data center inventory, better utilization of host computers and more efficient resource management. Server utilization demands networking and storage solutions, as well as lots of storage space. Also, connection between storage and servers must be fast and seamless to prevent bottlenecks. 10 Gigabit Ethernet is the solution to assure not only connectivity but also virtualized environments.

10 Gigabit Ethernet also allows the aggregation layer to go along with constant increase of users’ and applications’ demands. It has three features that can solve bottlenecks and assure needed connection smoothness:

• Support for multi-Gigabit streams,
• Less usage of fiber strands in comparison with Gigabit Ethernet aggregation,
• Presence for advanced scalability, assuring a future-proof nature of the network

What’s attractive about 10 Gigabit Ethernet (or 10 GbE for short) is its performance, flexibility and pricing. This standard not only reduces overall cost and introduces flexibility in the datacenter and storage area, but also tackles processing load and acts as a guardian of low latency throughout the network.

Another pair of shoes is the automotive business. Currently, the Ethernet usage in this area is limited to diagnostic connectivity purposes, cameras and entertainment systems. It’s important to provide low power, area and high performance, while sustaining highly-configurable environment for designers. Especially with an adoption of connected and autonomous cars on the horizon, which will require a complex and advanced System on a Chip (SoC) every single time.

That means SerDes and PHY working for a sole purpose of creating optimum performance design. High configurability of the PHY must be a given and allow creation of custom solution. Total system power must be reduced and seamless connection to a third-party solutions assured.

Cadence offers a product that meets all those requirements. Cadence 10 Gigabit Ethernet Multi-Protocol SerDes and PHY is available, and more on the solution can be found here.