Parallel optical interconnects for enterprise class server clusters: needs and technology solutions

We examine the status of enterprise-class server clusters and the communication issues that need to be addressed in future systems. With increasing system performance, new approaches beyond traditional copper-only communication solutions have to be examined. Parallel optics is an attractive solution to overcome copper's shortcomings, but traditional approaches to parallel optics have had their own limitations. We describe a new approach to parallel optics - dense parallel optics - and its relevance to enterprise servers. After discussing system communication needs, we examine dense parallel optics from both the passive cabling and active component views. We explain how dense parallel optics offers a unique way to address the performance, cost, reliability, and scalability of server systems. We also discuss how current approaches to dense parallel optics afford system opportunities beyond simple data transport.