| META-DX1 combines 100 GbE, 400 GbE, FlexE, nanosecond timestamping accuracy, and a MACsec security engine in a single chip with terabit capacity.

Cloud and communications service providers need routing and switching platforms that can reduce costs, optimize bandwidth, and improve capacity, security, and flexibility as they build their networks.

Microchip Technology announced on the 3rd that it has released the META-DX1 Ethernet PHY (Physical-Layer) device family through its subsidiary Microsemi to this end.
The PHY device family integrates 1 to 400 GbE Ethernet ports, FlexE, Media Access Control Security (MACsec) link encryption, and nanosecond-level timestamping accuracy into a single chip.

The industry is transitioning from 100 GbE to 400 GbE to support traffic within hyperscale data centers.

According to Cisco's Global Cloud Index, traffic within hyperscale data centers will quadruple by 2021, and traffic between data centers will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 30%.

META-DX1 supports key features required by service providers while increasing the capacity of the line card to 36 400 GbE ports or 144 100 GbE ports at 3.6 per second. It can quadruple from terabits per second (Tbps) to 14.4 Tbps.

The META-DX1 MACsec engine secures outgoing traffic from the data center or enterprise premises, and FlexE enables cloud and communications service providers to optimally configure links beyond today's fixed-rate Ethernet to leverage low-cost, high-capacity optical fiber infrastructure, reducing fiber plant costs while meeting capacity requirements.

The META-DX1 family combines MACsec and FlexE into a single solution to meet the next stage of capacity growth as you scale your data center interconnect (DCI).

The integrated crosspoint switching capabilities of the META-DX1 enable OEMs to easily transition from 25 Gbps NRZ and 56 Gbps PAM-based architectures by supporting a single design or SKU for 100 GbE (QSFP28) and 400 GbE (QSFP-DD) optical cables. META-DX1 provides high-performance timestamping capabilities with nanosecond-level accuracy on all ports, enabling it to meet timing requirements, one of the challenges faced during the deployment of 5G mobile base stations when conducting network expansion projects.

“The industry anticipated the challenges and limitations of traditional fixed-speed Ethernet MACs in scaling data center interconnects and created FlexE as a solution,” said Bob Wheeler, vice president and principal analyst at The Linley Group. “Microchip’s META-DX1 is a critical enabler for FlexE on data center routers, enabling cloud service providers to scale and connect their data centers more cost-effectively while simplifying network operations and management.”

“The META-DX1 family is designed to integrate into a single hardware and software offering the diverse capabilities service providers need to build and scale networks that connect enterprise and data center services to the cloud and emerging 5G applications,” said Babak Samimi, vice president of Microchip’s communications business unit. “By delivering the MACsec, FlexE and nanosecond packet timing performance required for 5G communications, Microchip has introduced an Ethernet connectivity platform that is valuable not only for optical transport equipment but also for routers and switches used by telecom and cloud service providers.”