FREMONT, Calif. -- A new 100G project has been launched by the Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) to define a Module Management Interface. The project, started in the Physical and Link Layer Working Group, has set a goal to develop a Management Data Input/Output Interface (MDIO) for the 100G Long Haul DWDM Transmission Module. The MDIO project will specify the logical architecture and frame structure, module control and host-module signaling theory, and MDIO register set. Work on the 100G Long Haul DWDM Transmission Module Multisource Agreement (MSA) began a year ago and the MDIO interface is an important component to completing the project, enabling multi- vendor interoperability.

The OIF has a number of projects in various states of progression addressing 100G for Long Haul DWDM transport networks. The OIF’s Framework Document outlines the issues for the various projects and can be viewed at http://oiforum.com/public/documents/OIF-FD-100G-DWDM-01.0.pdf

“The OIF Framework Document brings many different pieces together for 100G Long Haul DWDM networks,” says Karl Gass of Sandia National Labs and the OIF Physical and Link Layer Working Group Vice Chair. “As we identify the boundaries for each issue, we work to fill in that piece of the technological puzzle. The MDIO is another key piece of that puzzle.”

Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF)