A high-speed physical-layer architecture for nextgeneration higher-speed Ethernet for VSR and backplane applications was developed. VSR and backplane networks provide 100-Gb/s data transmission in "mega data centers" and blade servers, which have new and broad potential markets of LAN technologies. It supports 100-Gb/s-throughput, high-reliability, and low-latency data transmission, making it well suited to VSR and backplane applications for intra-building and intra-cabinet networks. Its links

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... omprise ten 10-Gb/s high-speed serial lanes. Payload data are transmitted by ribbon fiber cables for very short reach and by copper channels for the backplane board. Ten lanes convey 320-bit data synchronously (32 bits × 10 lanes) and parity data of forward-error correction code (newly developed (544, 512) code FEC), providing highly reliable (BER<1E-22) data transmission with a burst-error correction with low latency (31.0 ns on the transmitter (Tx) side and 111.6 ns on the receiver (Rx) side). A 64B/66B code-sequence-based skew compensation mechanism, which provides low-latency compensation for the lane-to-lane skew (less than 51 ns), is used for parallel transmission. Testing this physical-layer architecture in an ASIC showed that it can provide 100-Gb/s data transmission with a 772-kgate circuit, which is small enough for implementation in a single LSI. key words: Ethernet, VSR, backplane, skew, FEC, Fire codes Requirements for a Next-Generation Higher-Speed Ethernet Interface The required functions and specifications for nextgeneration higher-speed Ethernet are listed below. High-Throughput Transmission A next-generation higher-speed Ethernet interface must provide high-throughput transmission. That is, 100-Gb/s data throughput and transmission of 100 m to over 40 km is required to cover the legacy LAN/MAN market (10-Gb Eth-