Keysight Technologies' New 64 GBaud BERT Solution Simplifies Test Setup, Accelerates 400G Receiver Testing

Industry's most-integrated bit error ratio tester (BERT) for PAM-4 and NRZ features new adjustable equalizer

Highlights:

• Streamlines receiver test setups with highly integrated pattern generator
• Repeatable results with built-in equalizer to reopen closed eyes
• Scalable and upgradable for future needs

Keysight Technologies, Inc. recently announced innovative enhancements for the M8040A high-performance bit error ratio tester (BERT) solution for testing PAM-4 and NRZ devices that operate up to 64 GBaud. Engineers in validation labs and R&D who characterize receivers on the physical layer for emerging 400G data center interconnects will benefit from simplified test setups and repeatable and accurate results.

Today's data center infrastructure is continuously optimized to address bandwidth capacity growth, power, reach and service differentiation. Higher transmission rates, more transmission lanes, and new multi-level data formats, such as PAM-4, address the increased transmission bandwidth demand for the next-generation data center interconnects.

The latest revisions of IEEE 802.3bs and OIF CEI-56G implementation agreements define PAM-4 and NRZ interfaces for electrical chip-to-chip, chip-to-module, backplane connections and optical interfaces for up to 400 Gb/s bandwidth. R&D and validation labs that need to characterize receivers for data center interconnects with PAM-4 or NRZ data rates up to 64 GBaud are facing new test challenges, such as tighter timing margins, channel loss, non-linearity, level interference and crosstalk effects—making test efficiency and accuracy essential.

Overcoming channel loss in electrical interfaces, such as chip-to-chip, chip-to-module interfaces and backplanes, is a big challenge with higher symbol rates. Pre-distortion techniques, such as de-emphasis, are used in the transmitter and equalization in the receiver to help re-open closed eyes caused by inter-symbol interference.

"The M8040A is the most integrated receiver test solution for PAM-4 and NRZ signals," said Joachim Peerlings, vice president and general manager of Keysight's Networks and Data Centers Solutions Business. "With the new built-in equalization, we continue to streamline our receiver test to help our customers bring their solutions to market faster. The M8040A enables R&D and test engineers to master the receiver test challenges for 400G data center interconnects."

The new M8040A is the latest member of the modular AXIe based M8000 series of BER test solutions and is a highly integrated BERT that supports PAM-4 signals up to 64 Gbaud and NRZ signals up to 64 Gbit/s. The pattern generator module provides built-in de-emphasis, jitter injection and an optional second channel. Engineers and designers can select PAM-4 and NRZ by software in the user interface, eliminating the need for external combiners, cabling and deskew to provide PAM-4 signals. For best signal quality, remote heads reduce the distance to the device under test. The analyzer module provides true PAM-4 error analysis in real-time for long PRBS and QPRBS patterns—allowing proofing even low-bit error ratios and symbol error ratios with the required confidence.

The error analyzer now supports symbol rates up to 64 Gbaud for NRZ signals and built-in adjustable equalization. Users can control the M8040A from a graphical and remote-control interface.

U.S. Pricing and Availability

The price of a M8040A BERT starts at $323,000 for a 32 GBaud PAM-4 BERT with one channel, including the M8070A software. The analyzer provides new options for built-in equalization and support of data rates up to 64Gb/s NRZ. Both options are upgradable and available now for ordering.

Additional Information

More information about the Keysight M8040A 64 GBaud BERT is available at www.keysight.com/find/m8040a. Information about accelerating the accurate characterization of PAM-4 and NRZ receivers is available at Keysight 400G resources.

About Keysight in Digital Test

Keysight's solutions for digital applications are driven and supported by Keysight experts who are involved in various international standards committees. Keysight experts are active in the Joint Electronic Devices Engineering Council (JEDEC), PCI Special Interest Group (PCI-SIG), Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), Serial ATA International Organization (SATA-IO), USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI) Alliance, Ethernet standards (IEEE 802.3), Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) and many others. Keysight is committed to involvement in standards groups and related workshops, plugfests and seminars to ensure the right test solutions are created to meet customers' evolving needs.

About Keysight in Modular

Keysight provides unrivaled PXI and AXIe performance built on the industry's most accurate measurement science. Keysight helps engineers get to first measurement faster with common measurement software and Keysight Reference Solutions. Keysight has the industry's largest global network of experienced application engineers and metrology-grade calibration centers. For more information, visit www.keysight.com/find/modular.

About Keysight Technologies

Keysight Technologies is a leading technology company that helps its engineering, enterprise and service provider customers optimize networks and bring electronic products to market faster and at a lower cost. Keysight's solutions go where the electronic signal goes, from design simulation, to prototype validation, to manufacturing test, to optimization in networks and cloud environments. Customers span the worldwide communications ecosystem, aerospace and defense, automotive, energy, semiconductor and general electronics end markets. Keysight generated revenues of $2.9B in fiscal year 2016. In April 2017, Keysight acquired Ixia, a leader in network test, visibility, and security. For more information, visit www.keysight.com.