AMC225: AdvancedMC 10GbE/XAUI Media Converter and Network TAP

The AMC225 expands the VadaTech embedded-computing portfolio with a dedicated networking function: connecting, converting or physically mirroring Ethernet traffic between two front-panel SFP+ interfaces and a backplane XAUI port.

An onboard high-speed signal matrix interconnects three network interfaces:

• SFP+ Port 0;
• SFP+ Port 1;
• backplane XAUI.

Any two can form the direct connection, while the third can be used to mirror ingress traffic from one of the connected ports.

This enables the AMC225 to operate as both an Ethernet media converter and a 10GbE Network TAP directly inside a MicroTCA or AdvancedMC system.

Dual 1GbE / 10GbE SFP+ interfaces

The front panel provides two SFP+ cages.

Depending on the installed transceivers, the interfaces support either Gigabit Ethernet or 10 Gigabit Ethernet.

Available media options include:

Both installed transceivers must operate at the same speed.

This allows the physical network medium to be selected according to the platform while retaining the same AMC module.

10GbE XAUI backplane interface

The rear interface uses XAUI on AMC Ports 4 through 7.

The module is based on the AMC.2 specification and provides a 10GbE connection between its signal matrix and the MicroTCA fabric.

Possible physical paths therefore include:

• SFP+ to XAUI,
• SFP+ to SFP+,
• or a direct two-port path with the remaining interface used for monitoring.

Physical-layer media conversion

The AMC225 performs media conversion at the physical layer.

Two interfaces can be directly interconnected through the high-speed matrix, with or without a change in physical media.

A system can therefore implement configurations such as:

• 10GBASE-SR to 10GBASE-LR,
• or front-panel SFP+ to backplane XAUI.

The AMC225 is not a conventional Layer 2 Ethernet switch. Its main data path is a direct physical connection between the selected ports.

10GbE Network TAP with physical traffic mirroring

The module can also operate as a 10GbE Network TAP.

Two ports form the direct network path, while ingress traffic from one of those ports is copied to the third interface.

Traffic mirroring takes place at Layer 1 – the physical layer.

Because the monitoring port is not part of the main switched data path, the directly connected ports continue to operate at full line rate.

This makes the AMC225 suitable for feeding traffic to systems performing:

• network monitoring,
• performance analytics,
• intrusion detection,
• or intrusion prevention.

The module can therefore be integrated into Information & Communication Systems where visibility into high-speed network traffic is required inside the embedded platform.

Flexible assignment of all three interfaces

The three interfaces are not restricted to a single fixed topology.

Any two ports can form the direct connection and the remaining interface can become the mirror destination.

This allows the monitoring function to be adapted to the actual network path inside the system rather than forcing one predefined physical arrangement.

Full-line-rate primary connection

Enabling the mirroring function does not reduce the throughput of the two directly connected ports.

The copied traffic is generated independently from the primary path.

This is an important distinction from conventional Layer 2 switch port mirroring, where congestion on the monitoring interface can affect the completeness of the traffic copy.

Adaptive Electronic Dispersion Compensation

The AMC225 integrates Fully Adaptive Electronic Dispersion Compensation – EDC.

This physical-layer function supports signal integrity across the high-speed interfaces and complements the range of supported SFP/SFP+ media options.

Integrated link-test functions

The module includes several diagnostic resources for high-speed serial links:

• Bit Error Rate Tester – BER Tester,
• PRBS generation and checking,
• packet generation and checking,
• and programmable pattern generation and checking.

These functions can assist during system integration, validation and network-interface diagnostics.

Operating-system independent

The AMC225 is operating-system agnostic.

Its core conversion, direct-connect and mirroring functions operate at the physical layer rather than requiring Ethernet frames to be processed by host software.

This allows the module to be used independently of the operating system running on the host processor modules.

IPMI 2.0 and hot swap

The AMC225 provides IPMI 2.0 module management, a hot-swap ejector handle and front-panel management/activity indicators.

The board is a single-width, mid-size AdvancedMC module, with a full-size front-panel option.

Dimensions are 73.5 × 180.6 mm.

8 W power consumption

Board power consumption is 8 W.

The specified operating range requires airflow greater than 200 LFM.

Environmental specifications

Optional Humiseal 1A33 polyurethane and Humiseal 1B31 acrylic conformal coatings are available.

Integrating network monitoring directly into MicroTCA

The AMC225 is particularly useful when media conversion or network observation needs to take place inside the embedded system itself.

Instead of placing an external TAP in the network path, the monitoring function can be integrated directly into the AdvancedMC chassis alongside processing and networking modules.

For selected Defense, Aerospace & Security applications, this can provide an embedded path for traffic monitoring where the system requirements are compatible with the AMC225 specifications.

The module can also form part of an ECRIN Systems COTS and Modified COTS solution, combining the MicroTCA chassis, processing boards, networking interfaces and monitoring resources.

Production and system integration can then address the complete Ethernet topology, backplane, optical media and thermal implementation.

Main SFP/SFP+ configurations

Both ports must use transceivers operating at the same data rate.