Molex Demonstrates 10 Gbps I-Trac Backplane at Ethernet Alliance® Booth, Interop 2007

Molex Incorporated demonstrated a reference backplane, featuring the new I-Trac Backplane Connector System, as part of the Ethernet Alliance® 10 Gbsp demonstration at Interop 2007.  In addition to the I-Trac Backplane, the group display included state-of-the-art equipment from two other top brands in the Ethernet field, Tyco Electronics, a business segment of Tyco International Ltd. and Applied Micro Circuits Corp., to produce a comprehensive data traffic simulation. 

"Molex's membership in the Ethernet Alliance and its part in the Interop event is an important industry participation step that builds on our active role in the development of the 10 Gbps backplane Ethernet standard," said Gourgen Oganessyan, senior signal integrity engineer, Molex Incorporated. "We are confident that the demonstration of error free 10 Gbps data transmission over a one meter channel in the I-Trac Reference Backplane will serve as an illustration of technological maturity and feasibility of this important standard."

The I-Trac System features a broadside-coupled, skew-equalized design that is capable of data rates up to 12.5+ Gbps.  Additionally, it offers multiple benefits over other backplane products, including superior impedance control, lower cross-talk and higher overall bandwidth.  With its unique open pin-field design, the I-Trac System gives customers the flexibility to assign high-speed differential pairs, low-speed signals, power and ground contacts anywhere within the pin-field.

"The Molex I-Trac Backplane System is an innovative solution for new Ethernet standards supporting 10 Gbps.  Additionally, the I-Trac Reference Backplane’s error free performance shows how it can be used in new platforms designed to operate in the 10+ Gbps environment," said Ryan Price, product manager, Molex Incorporated. 

The I-Trac Reference Backplane is a versatile system-level evaluation platform that system design teams can use to quickly and accurately evaluate channel performance under a variety of design parameters and conditions.  Several versions of the Reference Backplanes are available from Molex for use by customers and industry partners.

"The Ethernet Alliance's vision of becoming the industry voice for IEEE 802® Ethernet has become a success due to the support and commitment of members like Molex Incorporated," said Brad Booth, president, Ethernet Alliance. "As we celebrate our one-year anniversary at Interop Las Vegas, the Ethernet Alliance is proud to showcase the latest in IEEE 802 Ethernet technologies.  Looking to the future, the Ethernet Alliance and its members look forward to continuing the advancement of Ethernet technologies."

The Ethernet Alliance, an industry group dedicated to being the market-responsive industry voice on IEEE 802 Ethernet projects, organized the demonstration to promote industry awareness of existing product solutions for emerging IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standards.  The display included the Molex and Tyco Electronics brand backplanes carrying data generated through AMCC’s QT2055 10 GBASE-KR Phy device.