Cloud networks continue to expand rapidly, driven by the exponential growth of cloud-based content and services, from video streaming to the Internet of Things. Cloud data centers are rapidly migrating to 25 GbE server uplinks and 100 GbE server-rack connections, driving the need for scalable DCI optics to interconnect these data centers. Cloud Xpress 2 offers simple, efficient, and secure 100 GbE DCI scalability, enabling internet content provider networks to keep pace with these demands.
Powered by the Infinite Capacity Engine, Cloud Xpress 2 delivers a super-channel of 1.2 terabits per second (Tb/s) in a single rack while enabling best-in-class fiber capacity of up to 27.6 Tb/s on a single fiber pair. The Infinite Capacity Engine is powered by Infinera’s next-generation FlexCoherent® processor and cutting-edge photonics from Infinera’s fourth-generation photonic integrated circuits (PICs). Cloud Xpress 2 incorporates Infinera’s unique Instant Bandwidth product offering, a software-activated bandwidth delivery technology that delivers a success-driven business model while reducing operating costs. Furthermore, the Infinite Capacity Engine supports low power consumption and built-in security with state-of-the-art wire-speed data encryption in flight. Encryption is becoming a critical requirement for network operators, and Infinera was the first company to offer a compact DCI solution with built-in encryption in Cloud Xpress. Cloud Xpress 2 now extends that same encryption solution and scales it to a new level of capacity.
Like all Cloud Xpress products, Cloud Xpress 2 is designed for plug-and-play operation with simplified provisioning and support for data center automation. Featuring built-in optical amplification for extended reach, the Cloud Xpress family can transmit 1.2 Tb/s up to 130 kilometers over a single fiber pair without an external multiplexer or amplifier, resulting in fewer fibers and a smaller footprint. This contrasts with currently available alternative solutions, which require at least six fiber pairs fed into an external multiplexer, in-line with an external amplifier, resulting in a more complex setup and ongoing maintenance. Infinera continues to innovate with Cloud Xpress 2, offering network operators the ability to automate and scale data centers by providing critical capabilities such as auto-discovery topology, zero-touch provisioning support, standard application programming interfaces for scheduling telemetry and streaming, and stackability with multiple chassis managed as a single system. Finally, by minimizing the number of components in the system and using ultra-reliable PIC technology, Cloud Xpress 2 is designed to enable DCI with high reliability.
"Content and cloud providers are the first to implement any new technology that helps them better address the rapid growth of their networks," says Andrew Schmitt, Founder and Principal Analyst at Cignal AI. "Infinera was the first to commercialize a purpose-built DCI platform that did exactly that, and essentially owns the market for this type of equipment today. The design of the new Cloud Xpress 2 again raises the bar with the density, capacity, and operational simplicity that helps content and cloud providers meet the challenge of scale."
"Cloud Xpress 2 is a significant milestone for Infinera, raising the bar for data center interconnection platforms," said Dr. Stuart Elby, senior vice president of Infinera's Data Center Business Group. "This is the first product based on our innovative Infinite Capacity Engine, which sets new standards for optimal performance and efficiency. With the Infinite Capacity Engine, Cloud Xpress 2 delivers advanced levels of scalability and low power consumption, along with simplicity, automation, and built-in security.".
