Marvell announces dual ports for data centers and 5G infrastructure

     Today, the rigorous timing requirements of 5G radios are driving greater timing accuracy, and the new 400GbE PHY devices feature Marvell's industry-leading 56G PAM4 SerDes technology, IEEE 802.1AE 256-bit MACsec encryption, and high-precision timestamps. With these comprehensive, innovative capabilities, network equipment manufacturers can provide solutions with greater throughput, better security, and better timing accuracy for hyperscale data centers, edge devices, enterprises, and 5G infrastructure applications.

     Data centers urgently need to adopt the latest technologies to support modular infrastructure and the new demands of connected intelligence and edge computing. Marvell's dual-port 400G MACsec PHY 88X7121P supports 1GbE to 400GbE Ethernet transfer rates and, in combination with the breakthrough Marvell® Prestera® CX 8500 400GbE switch, securely transfers data to the smart edge. To meet the bandwidth and latency requirements of 5G and artificial intelligence for critical applications.

     Faraj Aalaei, executive vice president of Marvell's Networks business unit, said: "The dual-port 400GbE MACsec PHY integrates the industry-leading 56G PAM4 SerDes solution into an advanced FinFET process, further strengthening Marvell's leadership in high-speed Ethernet PHY and high-speed SerDes technology. Marvell's new PHY is optimized for differentiated and innovative solution deployment to meet the unique security and performance requirements of hyperscale data centers, enterprise networks and 5G infrastructure."

     Bob Wheeler, principal network analyst at Linley Group, said, "We see data centers upgrading to 100GbE, 200GbE and 400Gb to meet growing processing and I/O bandwidth demands, especially as AI and machine learning workloads surge. Enhanced data protection and security has also become a core requirement for cloud operators and network equipment vendors. "Marvell's new 400GbE PHY addresses the critical need for enhanced MACsec security in data center interconnection, while delivering the mature, high-speed data performance demanded by network equipment vendors."

     The 88X7121P is the latest addition to Marvell's Alaska C Series Ethernet transceiver that supports Retiming and Gearboxing applications and is packaged and software compatible with Marvell's 88X7120 PHY. This gives customers design flexibility. The new device is fully compliant with IEEE 400GbE, 100GbE, and 50GbE standards and goes beyond the electrical specifications for QSFP-DD and OSFP optical module connections.

     The 88X7121P provides MacSEC-based 256-bit encryption for point-to-point links to enhance security and allow flexible deployment of MACsec encryption without the cost and power burden of incorporating this functionality into a switch ASIC. The high-precision Class C PTP timestamp integrated into the device improves the timing accuracy required for carrier, wireless backhaul and 5G infrastructure applications.