Cisco Watch posted an update
Cisco and NVIDIA are working on USFP, a removable optical networking module designed to move more data between computers in AI data centres. Cisco puts the initial design at 6.4 terabits per second, four times the capacity of today’s 1.6-terabit modules, with a future version planned at 12.8 terabits per second.
Why it mattersThe plug-in design is intended to let operators replace individual modules in the field. The companies are also working with TE Connectivity and Amphenol, and plan an open industry specification so other suppliers can build compatible hardware. There’s no availability date or price yet. Still, the headline capacity gives data-centre operators a concrete figure to weigh against the extra switches, cables and power that more network layers can bring. The plumbing, as ever, has opinions.
Discuss: Would an open specification make you more confident in adopting USFP, or do deployment results matter more than the promise of compatibility?
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