Cable assembly

A cable assembly can include a single C form-factor pluggable (CFP) connector adhering to a CFP multi-source agreement (MSA), and providing a maximum bandwidth of between 100 and 120 gigabits-per-second (Gbps) over ten-to-twelve lanes. The cable assembly can include, for instance, one, two, or three quad small form-factor pluggable (QSFP/QSFP+) connectors adhering to a QSFP/QSFP+ MSA, and each providing a maximum bandwidth of forty Gbps over four lanes. The cable assembly can include one or more cables equal in number to the QSFP/QSFP+ connectors and each connecting the single CFP connector to the one of the QSFP/QSFP+ connectors. The four lanes over which each QSFP/QSFP+ connector provides the maximum bandwidth of forty Gbps corresponds to a different four of the ten-to-twelve lanes over which the single CFP connector provides the maximum bandwidth of between 100 and 120 Gbps.

BACKGROUND

Ethernet has evolved to meet the growing demands of packet-switched networks. It has become the unifying technology enabling communications via the Internet and other networks using the Internet Protocol (IP). Due to its proven low cost, known reliability, and simplicity, the majority of today's Internet traffic starts or ends on an Ethernet connection. This popularity has resulted in a complex ecosystem among carrier networks, enterprise networks, and consumers, creating a symbiotic relationship among its various parts.

At first, Ethernet speeds were typically limited to ten or one-hundred megabits-per-second (Mbps), and then increased to one gigabit-per-second (Gbps). However, with the needs for increasing bandwidth, it is not uncommon to encounter ten Gbps speeds, and even forty and one-hundred Gbps speeds have become available. A multitude of different connectors have evolved to support such higher Ethernet speeds, beyond the common RJ45 connectors used for one Gbps and lower speeds.

SUMMARY

An example cable assembly of the disclosure includes a first connector adhering to a first standard and providing a first total maximum bandwidth. The cable assembly includes one or more second connectors adhering to a second standard different than the first standard. Each second connector provides a second total maximum bandwidth. A number of the second connectors multiplied by the second total maximum bandwidth is no greater than the first total maximum bandwidth. The cable assembly includes one or more cables. Each cable connects the first connector to a different one of the second connectors. A number of the cables is equal in number to the second connectors.

A second example cable assembly of the disclosure includes a single C form-factor pluggable (CFP) connector adhering to a CFP multi-source agreement (MSA), and providing a maximum bandwidth of between 100 and 120 gigabits-per-second (Gbps) over ten-to-twelve lanes. The cable assembly includes a single quad small form-factor pluggable (QSFP/QSFP+) connector adhering to a QSFP/QSFP+ MSA, and providing a maximum bandwidth of forty Gbps over four lanes. The cable assembly includes a single cable connecting the single CFP connector to the single QSFP/QSFP+ connector. The four lanes over which the single QSFP/QSFP+ connector provides the maximum bandwidth of forty Gbps corresponds to four of the ten-to-twelve lanes over which the single CFP connector provides the maximum bandwidth of between 100 and 120 Gbps, such that six-to-eight of the ten-to-twelve lanes have to remain unused within the cable assembly.

A third example cable assembly of the disclosure includes a single CFP connector adhering to a CFP MSA, and providing a maximum bandwidth of between 100 and 120 Gbps over ten-to-twelve lanes. The cable assembly includes a pair of QSFP/QSFP+ connectors adhering to a QSFP/QSFP+ MSA. Each QSFP/QSFP+ connector provides a maximum bandwidth of forty Gbps over four lanes. The cable assembly includes a pair of cables. Each cable connects the single CFP connector to one of the pair of QSFP/QSFP+ connectors. The four lanes over which each QSFP/QSFP+ connector provides the maximum bandwidth of forty Gbps corresponds to a different four of the ten-to-twelve lanes over which the single CFP connector provides the maximum bandwidth of between 100 and 120 Gbps, such that two-to-four of the ten-to-twelve lanes have to remain unused within the cable assembly.

A fourth example cable assembly of the disclosure includes a single CFP connector adhering to a CFP MSA, and providing a maximum bandwidth of between 100 and 120 Gbps over twelve lanes. The cable assembly includes exactly three QSFP/QSFP+ connectors adhering to a QSFP/QSFP+ MSA. Each QSFP/QSFP+ connector provides a maximum bandwidth of forty Gbps over four lanes. The cable assembly includes exactly three cables. Each cable connects the single CFP connector to one of the exactly three QSFP/QSFP+ connectors. The four lanes over which each QSFP/QSFP+ connector provides the maximum bandwidth of forty Gbps corresponds to a different four of the twelve lanes over which the single CFP connector provides the maximum bandwidth of between 100 and 120 Gbps, such that none of the lanes have to remain unused within the cable assembly.

An example system of the disclosure includes a networking device having first lane hardware. Each first lane hardware has a first maximum bandwidth and provides a first lane. A first total maximum bandwidth is equal to a number of the first lane hardware multiplied by the first maximum bandwidth. The networking device includes a connector communicatively connected to the first lanes. The system includes a cable assembly physically and removably connected to the connector of the networking device.

The cable assembly of the example system includes a first connector adhering to a first standard and providing the first maximum bandwidth. The cable assembly includes one or more second connectors adhering to a second standard different than the first standard. Each second connector provides a second total maximum bandwidth divided over second lanes. Each second lane has a second maximum bandwidth. A number of the second connectors multiplied by the second total maximum bandwidth is no greater than the first total maximum bandwidth. A number of the second lanes multiplied by the second maximum bandwidth is equal to the second total maximum bandwidth. The cable assembly includes one or more cables. Each cable connects the first connector to a different one of the second connectors. A number of the cables is equal in number to the second connectors. Each second connector is receptive to physical and removable connection to a corresponding connector of an electronic device having second lane hardware providing the second lanes. As such, the first total maximum bandwidth is sharable by a maximum number of electronic devices equal in number to the second connectors, and each electronic device is to use no more than the second total maximum bandwidth of the first total maximum bandwidth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure refers to the accompanying drawings that form a part of the description. The drawings illustrate specific exemplary embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. The detailed description, including the drawings, describes these embodiments in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure. Those skilled in the art may further utilize other embodiments of the disclosure, and make logical, mechanical, and other changes without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Readers of the following detailed description should, therefore, not interpret the description in a limiting sense, and only the appended claims define the scope of the embodiment of the disclosure.

As noted in the background section, a multitude of different connectors have evolved to support higher Ethernet speeds. One such connector is the quad small form-factor pluggable (QSFP/QSFP+) connector, which typically supports Ethernet data rates up to forty gigabits-per-second (Gbps) over four 10-Gbps channels or lanes. A QSFP/QSFP+ connector adheres to the QSFP/QSFP+ multi-source agreement (MSA), which was agreed upon by members of the QSFP MSA Group.

However, currently QSFP/QSFP+ connectors cannot support Ethernet speeds over forty Gbps. Therefore, to support higher data rates, another connector has been developed. This connector is the C form-factor pluggable (CFP) connector, which adheres to the CFP MSA that was agreed upon by members of the CFP MSA Group. A CFP connector commonly supports Ethernet data rates up to 100 Gbps over ten 10-Gbps channels or lanes. However, the CFP MSA can less commonly support Ethernet data rates up to 120 Gbps over twelve 10-Gbps channels or lanes.

A shortcoming of these different connectors is that networking devices exposing just QSFP/QSFP+ connectors cannot be connected to networking devices exposing just CFP connectors, yielding to incompatibility headaches for network administrators and other users. Furthermore, even if a networking device exposing just QSFP/QSFP+ connectors could be connected to networking devices exposing just CFP connectors, the Ethernet speed mismatch between the former and the latter connectors would mean that much networking bandwidth could potentially go unused. For example, in a worse case scenario, a device supporting 120 Gbps at a CFP connector connected to a device supporting forty Gbps at a QSFP/QSFP+ would mean that eighty Gbps of the bandwidth provided by the former device could go unused.

Example cable assemblies disclosed herein resolve these shortcomings. A cable assembly includes a first connector, such as a CFP connector, which provides a first total maximum bandwidth, such as between 100 and 120 Gbps. The cable assembly includes one or more second connectors, such as QSFP/QSFP+ connectors, which each provide a second total maximum bandwidth, such as forty Gbps. The number of the second connectors multiplied by this second total maximum bandwidth is no greater than the first total maximum bandwidth. For example, in the case where the first connector provides 120 Gbps at most, and each second connector provides 40 Gbps at most, there are no more than three second connectors. The cable assembly also includes one or more cables equal in number to the second connectors, and which each connect the first connector to a different second connector.

In this way, the example cable assemblies disclosed herein resolve the shortcomings noted above. First, networking devices exposing different types of connectors can still be connected to one another. Second, networking devices exposing different types of connectors that support mismatched data rates can be connected to one another in a manner that ensures that little or no bandwidth could go unused. For example, one device may support 120 Gbps at a CFP connector, and via an example cable assembly disclosed herein can be connected to three other devices that each support 40 Gbps at a QSFP/QSFP+ connector. As such, the full bandwidth of 120 Gbps supported by the former device can be used by the three latter devices that can each just support 40 Gbps.

FIG. 1shows an example cable assembly100. The cable assembly100includes a CFP connector102and three QSFP/QSFP+ connectors104A,104B, and104C, which are collectively referred to as the QSFP/QSFP+ connectors104. Three cables106A,106B, and106C, collectively referred to as the three cables106, connect the CFP connector102to the QSFP/QSFP+ connectors104. More specifically, each cable106connects the CFP connector102to a different one of the QSFP/QSFP+ connectors104. Because there are three QSFP/QSFP+ connectors104, the cable assembly100can connect one networking device at the CFP connector102to up to three different networking devices at the QSFP/QSFP+ connectors104.

The CFP connector102adheres to the CFP MSA, and is more generally a first connector adhering to a first standard. The CFP connector102provides a total maximum bandwidth of 120 Gbps, which can be divided over twelve lanes provided by a networking device to which the CFP connector102can be physically connected. Each such lane thus provides a maximum bandwidth of ten Gbps.

A lane is a network communication channel. Data can be communicated over such a lane. A networking device is said to provide the lane (i.e., the network communication channel or lane) in that the networking device includes lane hardware that can transmit and receive data over the lane. The data may be sent and received on a lane in accordance with an Ethernet protocol or standard, for instance.

Each QSFP/QSFP+ connector104adheres to the QSFP/QSFP+ MSA, and is more generally a second connector adhering to a second standard. Each QSFP/QSFP+ connector104provides a total maximum bandwidth of forty Gbps divided over four lanes provided by a networking device to which the QSFP/QSFP+ connector104in question can be physically connected. Each such lane thus provides a maximum bandwidth of ten Gbps.

The cables106can be passive or active cables. Passive cables are cables in which there are no integrated electronics. Conductors directly connect the CFP connector102to the QSFP/QSFP+ connectors104to directly relay signals between the networking device connected to the connector102and the networking device(s) connected to the connectors104without repeating, amplification, or other signal processing. Active cables are cables in which there are integrated electronics. Conductors connecting the CFP connector102to the QSFP/QSFP+ connectors104are augmented by electronics to repeat, amplify, or perform other signal processing on signals relayed between the networking device connected to the connector102and the networking device(s) connected to the connectors104.

Passive cables have the advantage of being less costly to manufacture as compared to active cables. However, active cables have the advantage of generally being able to have greater lengths than passive cables while still maintaining signal integrity. For example, the cables106if passive may be able to have a maximum length of 8.5 meters each, whereas the cables106if active may be able to have a maximum length of twenty meters each.

Depicted inFIG. 1are the four network communication lanes or channels108for each cable106, via dotted lines, and which have the maximum bandwidth of ten Gbps each. Specifically, the cable106A provides four network communication channels or lanes108A, the cable106B provides four such channels or lanes108B, and the cable106C provides four such channels or lanes108C. The network communication channels or lanes108A,108B, and108C are collectively referred to as the network communication channels or lanes108.

In the example cable assembly100ofFIG. 1, no bandwidth provided by the networking device connected to the CFP connector102has to remain unused. That is, none of the lanes of this networking device providing this bandwidth have to remain unused. This is because the total maximum bandwidth of the CFP connector102, which is 120 Gbps, is equal to the number of QSFP/QSFP+ connectors104multiplied by the total maximum bandwidth of each QSFP/QSFP+ connector104, or 3×40. As such, minimal or none of the bandwidth provided by the networking device connector to the CFP connector102has to be wasted. In particular, no bandwidth is wasted if each QSFP/QSFP+ connector104is connected to a networking device supporting the maximum forty Gbps date rate.

FIG. 2shows another example of the cable assembly100. The cable assembly100ofFIG. 2differs from that ofFIG. 1at least in the respect that there are two QSFP/QSFP+ connectors104and two corresponding cables106inFIG. 2as opposed to three of each as inFIG. 3. Thus, the cable assembly100ofFIG. 2includes a CFP connector102and two QSFP/QSFP+ connectors104A and104B, which are collectively referred to as the QSFP/QSFP+ connectors104. Two cables106A and106B, collectively referred to as the two cables106, connect the CFP connector102to the QSFP/QSFP+ connectors104. More specifically, each cable106connects the CFP connector102to a different one of the QSFP/QSFP+ connectors104. Because there are two QSFP/QSFP+ connectors104, the cable assembly100ofFIG. 2can connect one networking device at the CFP connector102to up to two different networking devices at the QSFP/QSFP+ connectors104.

The CFP connector102is inFIG. 2as is described in relation toFIG. 1, but may provide a total maximum bandwidth of 100 Gbps instead of 120 Gbps, and which is divided over ten lanes provided by a networking device to which the CFP connector102can be physically connected. Each such lane thus provides a maximum bandwidth of ten Gbps. Each QSFP/QSFP+ connector104is inFIG. 2as is described in relation toFIG. 1, and can provide a total maximum bandwidth of forty Gbps divided over four lanes provided by a networking device to which the QSFP/QSFP+ connector104in question can be physically connected. Each such lane thus provides a maximum bandwidth of ten Gbps.

The cables106are inFIG. 2as is described in relation toFIG. 1, and therefore can be passive or active. The network communication lanes or channels108depicted inFIG. 1are present in the cable assembly100ofFIG. 2, but are not explicitly shown inFIG. 2for illustrative clarity and convenience. Each network communication lane or channel is inFIG. 2as is described in relation toFIG. 1.

In the example cable assembly100ofFIG. 2, some bandwidth provided by the networking device connected to the CFP connector102has to remain unused. Particularly, two of the lanes of this networking device providing this bandwidth have to remain unused where there are ten total lanes, and four of the lanes have to remain unused where there are twelve total lanes. This is because the total maximum bandwidth of the CFP connector102, which is 100 or 120 Gbps, is greater than the number of QSFP/QSFP+ connectors104multiplied by the total maximum bandwidth of each QSFP/QSFP+ connector104, or 2×40. Therefore, no less than twenty Gbps of the 100 Gbps bandwidth or forty of the 120 Gbps bandwidth at the CFP connector102is wasted even if each QSFP/QSFP+ connector104is connected to a networking device supporting the maximum forty Gbps data rate.

FIG. 3shows a third example of the cable assembly100. The cable assembly100ofFIG. 3differs from that ofFIGS. 1 and 2at least in the respect that there is just one QSFP/QSFP+ connector104and just one corresponding cable106inFIG. 3. Thus, the cable assembly100ofFIG. 3includes a CFP connector102and one QSFP/QSFP+ connector104A. One cable106A connects the CFP connector102to the QSFP/QSFP+ connector104A. Because there is just one QSFP/QSFP+ connector104, the cable assembly100ofFIG. 3can connect one networking device at the CFP connector102to up to just one networking device, at the QSFP/QSFP+ connector104A.

The CFP connector102is inFIG. 3as is described in relation toFIG. 2, and can provide a total maximum bandwidth of 100 Gbps divided over ten lanes of a networking device to which the CFP connector120can be physically connected, or of 120 Gbps divided over twelve such lane of this device. Each lane provides a maximum bandwidth of ten Gbps. The QSFP/QSFP+ connector104A is inFIG. 3as is described in relation toFIG. 2, and can provide a total maximum bandwidth of forty Gbps divided over four lanes provided by a networking device to which the QSFP/QSFP+ connector104A can be physically connected. Each such lane can provide a maximum bandwidth of ten Gbps.

The cable106A is inFIG. 3as is described in relation toFIG. 2, and thus can be passive or active. The network communication lanes or channels108depicted inFIG. 1are again present in the cable assembly100ofFIG. 3, but are not explicitly shown inFIG. 3for illustrative clarity and convenience. Each network communication lane or channel is inFIG. 3as is described in relation toFIG. 1.

In the example cable assembly100ofFIG. 3, at least some bandwidth provided by the networking device connected to the CFP connector102has to remain unused. Particularly, six of the lanes of this networking device providing this bandwidth have to remain unused where there are ten total lanes, and eight of the lanes have to remain unused where there are twelve total lanes. This is because the total maximum bandwidth of the CFP connector102, which is 100 or 120 Gbps, is greater than the total maximum bandwidth of the only QSFP/QSFP+ connector104A, which is 40 Gbps. Therefore, no less than sixty Gbps of the 100 Gbps bandwidth or eighty Gbps of the 120 Gbps bandwidth of the CFP connector102is wasted even if the QSFP/QSFP+ connector104A is connected to a networking device supporting the maximum forty Gbps data rate.

FIG. 4shows an example system400in which the example cable assembly100that has been described can be employed. In the example ofFIG. 4, the cable assembly10is depicted as including the CFP connector102, three QSFP/QSFP+ connectors104, and three cables106connecting the connector102to the connectors104, as inFIG. 1. However, in other implementations, there can be just two QSFP/QSFP+ connectors104and two cables106as inFIG. 2, or just one QSFP/QSFP+ connector104and one cable106as inFIG. 3.

The system400includes a networking device402communicatively connected via the cable assembly100to three networking devices404A,404B, and404C, which are collectively referred to as the networking devices404. However, where there are just two QSFP/QSFP+ connectors104and two cables106within the cable assembly100, then the networking device402can connect via the cable assembly100to just two networking devices404. Likewise, where there is just one QSFP/QSFP+ connector104and one cable106within the cable assembly100, then the networking device402can connect via the cable assembly100to just one networking device404.

Each of the networking devices402and404can be a type of networking equipment, such as a switch, a router, a hub, and so on. Each of the networking devices402and404may be a computing device like a server computing device or a client computing device or other switch element. Each of the networking devices402and404may be another type of device as well, so long as it includes networking functionality.

The networking device402includes a CFP connector406that is physically and removably connected to the CFP connector102of the cable assembly100. The networking device402includes lane hardware408, such as twelve in the example ofFIG. 4, or ten, or another number. Each lane hardware408may be considered as including the hardware components by which the networking device402can communicate over a separate network communication channel or lane. Each lane hardware408may provide a bandwidth of ten Gbps, for instance over a corresponding lane. As such, the total maximum bandwidth of the networking device402is equal to the number of such lane hardware408multiplied by this bandwidth, such as 120 Gbps in the example ofFIG. 4.

The networking devices404A,404B, and404C include QSFP/QSFP+ connectors410A,410B, and410C, respectively, which are collectively referred to as the QSFP/QSFP+ connectors410of the networking devices404. The QSFP/QSFP+ connectors410A,410B, and410C are physically and removably connected to the QSFP/QSFP+ connectors104A,104B, and104C, respectively, of the cable assembly100. As such, the networking devices404are each communicatively connected to the networking device402, via the same cable assembly100.

The networking devices404A,404B, and404C include lane hardware412A,412B, and412C, respectively, which are collectively referred to as the lane hardware412of the networking devices404. There is multiple lane hardware412A communicatively connected to the QSFP/QSFP+ connector410A, multiple lane hardware412B communicatively connected to the QSFP/QSFP+ connector410B, and multiple lane hardware412C communicatively connected to the QSFP/QSFP+ connector410C. For instance, there are four each of the lane hardware412A,412B, and412C in the example ofFIG. 4.

Each lane hardware412A,412B, and412C may be considered as including the hardware components by which its corresponding networking device404can communicate over a separate network communication channel or lane. Each lane hardware412A,412B, and412C may provide a bandwidth of ten Gbps, for instance. As such, the total maximum bandwidth of each networking device404is equal to the number of such lane hardware412of the networking device404in question multiplied by this bandwidth, such as forty Gbps in the example ofFIG. 4.

In the example system ofFIG. 4, the total maximum bandwidth at the networking device402is used to communicate with three different networking devices404in increments equal to the total maximum bandwidth of each networking device404. For example, four of the twelve lanes provided by the lane hardware408of the networking device402are used to communicate with the four lanes provided by the lane hardware412A of the networking device404A. A different four lanes of the twelve lanes provided by the lane hardware408of the networking device402are used to communicate with the four lanes provided by the lane hardware412B of the networking device404B. The remaining four lanes of the twelve lanes provided by the lane hardware408are used to communicate with the four lanes provided by the lane hardware412C of the networking device404C.

In the example system ofFIG. 4, then, no bandwidth of the networking device402is wasted even though the networking device402provides at a single CFP connector406greater bandwidth than the bandwidth that any individual networking device404provides at its corresponding single QSFP/QSFP+ connector404. This is because the total maximum bandwidth of the networking device402is effectively divided over the three networking devices404. This in turn is because the cable assembly100novelly interconnects the single networking device402at its single CFP connector406thereof to multiple networking devices404at their corresponding single QSFP/QSFP+ connectors404.

It is finally noted that, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This application is thus intended to cover any adaptations or variations of embodiments of the present invention. As such and therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and equivalents thereof.