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. (NYSE:KEYS) today 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. Additional
information about Keysight’s PXI and AXIe modular test and measurement solutions is available at 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. More information is available at www.keysight.com.
PCI-SIG®, PCIe® and PCI Express® are registered trademarks and/or service marks of PCI-SIG.
MIPI® service marks and logo marks are owned by MIPI Alliance, Inc. and any use of such marks by Keysight
Technologies is under license. Other service marks and trade names are those of their respective owners.
Additional information about Keysight Technologies is available in the newsroom at www.keysight.com/go/news and on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.
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For Keysight Technologies, Inc.
Americas
Geri Lynne LaCombe, +1 303 662 4748
geri_lacombe@keysight.com
or
Europe
Sarah Calnan, +44 (118) 927 5101
sarah_calnan@keysight.com
or
Asia
Connie Wong, +852 3197-7818
connie-ky_wong@keysight.com
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