Optical interconnects are used in Cray Research Incorporated supercomputers for both clock distribution and channel communications. Currently, we are developing a new inter cabinet communications channel called GigaRing™ that will incorporate photonic components to meet channel bandwidth-distance requirements. Both commercially available and experimental serial optic data links, as well as parallel optic data links have been examined. After briefly describing the channel’s architecture, we present a comparison study showing the cost, performance and reliability results between serial and parallel data link components that could be used in the optical extension of the channel. With these comparison results, it is demonstrated that the serial data links best meet the channel’s requirements at present.

Date Published: 30 January 1996
PDF: 23 pages
Proc. SPIE 10284, Optoelectronic Interconnects and Packaging: A Critical Review, 102840K (30 January 1996); doi: 10.1117/12.229270

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 10284:
Optoelectronic Interconnects and Packaging: A Critical Review
Ray T. Chen; Peter S. Guilfoyle, Editor(s)