VIAVI Solutions is a global leader in communications test and measurement and optical technologies. VIAVI enables customer innovation in industries ranging from communication networks, hyperscale and enterprise data centers to consumer electronics and mission-critical avionics, transportation, aerospace and anti-counterfeiting systems.
Monojit Samaddar, Country Director, VIAVI Solutions in an interview with Electronics era talked about the latest developments in Hyperscale ecosystems, data center interconnects, testing hyperscale data center, AI / ML in test & measurement, fiber monitoring and so on. Read the full interview below.
Electronics Era: Data centres are the backbone of the digital world. How are modern data centres evolving and how does Viavi test solutions help?
Monojit: Hyperscale data centers continue to grow in size and complexity, even as 5G and the IoT drive network disaggregation and push intelligence to the edge. As data-intensive applications such as; AI/ML, high performance computing (HPC) and big data analytics enter the mainstream, the hyperscale and data center ecosystem must meet the insatiable demand for memory, bandwidth, computing power, storage and speed. Traditional networking infrastructure struggles to keep pace with the performance, speed and capacity requirements of AI/ML applications. To address this, there has been a push towards higher-speed 800G optical transceivers and the emergence of 1.6Tb/s, alongside other enabling technologies throughout the network. In addition, data center operators need to dramatically increase the amount of fiber interconnects and new multi-fiber connectivity.
VIAVI helps operators and providers to get the most from the hyperscale ecosystem and the services it carries so they can turn up infrastructure, successfully scale, and profitably innovate—today and tomorrow. With an unmatched breadth and depth of interoperable test products and expertise, VIAVI ensures levels of service and reliability that meet the high standards of hyperscale data center operators and service providers. VIAVI test solutions optimize optical hardware, fiber, and network performance over the lifecycle of the hyperscale data center, from lab to turn-up to monitoring. VIAVI’s smart test devices and software solutions for DCI environments are engineered with built-in automation and efficiency, boosting the deployment of DCI links by at least 60% while reducing project management complexity and cost.
Automated fiber certification, MPO connector inspection, high-speed 400G / 800G throughput testing, and virtual service activation and monitoring are among the advanced test capabilities designed to keep up with unceasing hyperscale data center growth.
Electronics Era: As new breed of Hyperscale Data Centers evolve how do ICPs and businesses deliver and achieve scale and speed?
Monojit: As hyperscale data center footprints continue to expand, traditional management practices are making way for a greater reliance on automation. Perhaps the biggest changes in data centers are those that pave the way for speeds of 400G and beyond. Next-generation networking is not just about bigger pipes. The demand for data brings with it a corresponding requirement to manage it all efficiently and securely. Keeping pace with the advances in speeds and demand for data, hyperscale data centers need to be intelligent, flexible and automated, as well as scalable.
ICPs whose traditional focus has been on content, are waking up to the benefits of comprehensive deployment, management and optimization techniques to push their existing infrastructure further, deliver on data speeds, maintain uptime and head off issues before problems arise. Further, businesses need a means of ensuring reliability across the whole network ecosystem regardless of capacity demand or underlying technology.
Rigorous testing across virtual, physical and cloud-based infrastructure help organizations manage change and speed network buildouts. VIAVI provides the multi-dimensional visibility, intelligence and insight needed to efficiently manage physical and virtual environments, in order to profitably deliver optimum service levels, transition to new technologies and launch innovative services.
Electronics Era: How are 5G networks changing the data center landscape?
Monojit: The intricacies of distributed, disaggregated and cloudified 5G networks are pushing data center design to the limit. Data center costs are rising just as their scale and complexity continue to escalate. Virtualized RAN, massive MIMO and antenna beamforming complicate the performance testing requirements within hyperscalers, introducing new spectrum analysis, demodulation and SLA challenges. Overcoming these requires end-to-end network slicing to be orchestrated seamlessly for each unique vertical – in other words, hyperscalers need to have a seamless, holistic approach to network management. In order to deliver fully automated and programmable network slicing and edge computing, hyperscalers require a next-generation approach to network test and assurance. Critical 5G IoT use cases leave no margin for error with respect to network performance and reliability.
Electronics Era: How does Viavi test solutions help in faster deployment and monetization of data center networks?
Monojit: New technology and applications will continue to drive the demand for testing. As the monetization opportunities presented by 5G and the IoT expand, new entrants will create applications that further challenge density, throughput, and efficiency limits.
VIAVI’s comprehensive test suite covers all aspects and phases of hyperscale construction, activation, monitoring and maintenance.
Fiber Inspection: The high volume of fiber connections within and between data centers requires reliable and efficient fiber inspection tools. INX 760 delivers the industry’s fastest inspection and analysis of single, duplex and multi-fiber connectors in applications ranging from hyperscale data centers, metro core construction, telco distribution and more. Technicians and IT teams can further streamline field workflows, boost productivity and increase visibility among project teams by connecting the INX 760 with the VIAVI TPA Test ecosystem.
Fiber Monitoring: The increase in fiber optics within the hyper scale data center industry has made fiber monitoring a difficult yet essential task. Versatile testing tools for continuity, optical loss measurement, optical power measurement, and OTDR are a must. This applies throughout all phases of construction, activation and troubleshooting activities. Automated fiber monitoring systems like the ONMSi Remote Fiber Test System (RFTS) provide scalable, centralized fiber monitoring with immediate alerts.
MPO: Hyperscale density constraints have led to rapid adoption of MPO for patch panel, server, and switch connections. Fiber testing and inspection can be accelerated through dedicated MPO test solutions with automated pass/fail results.
High Speed Transport – 400G and 800G: Emerging technologies like the IoT and 5G with high bandwidth demands have made cutting-edge, high speed Ethernet standards like 400G and 800G essential to hyperscale solutions. The OneAdvisor 800 with 400G Transport Module is the industry’s most integrated and compact tool for up to 400Gbps testing. This solution provides full rate coverage to address service activation, troubleshooting, and maintenance. Its portability and modularity make OneAdvisor 800 perfectly suited for metro/core, data center interconnect, and business services testing. The 800G Transport Module delivers comprehensive test capability, built-in guidance and automatic configuration that help field technicians install and maintain high-capacity networks up to 800G while in the field.
5G Networks: Distributed, disaggregated 5G networks bring more demand for hyperscale solutions and virtual testing of network functionality, applications, and security. The TeraVM solution is a valuable tool for validating both physical and virtual network functions and emulating millions of unique application flows to assess overall QoE.
Test Process Automation: Automation has provided a gateway to improved hyperscale data center performance and reliability along with test efficiency and consistency. Test process automation (TPA) applied to fiber inspection, certification, and network monitoring workflows accelerates test and reporting cycles, reduces training requirements, and improves alignment between technicians and customers.
Electronics Era: What are some of the new challenges ahead for Data Centers?
Monojit: Getting the most out of existing data center infrastructure is a challenge ICPs now face. Delivering on data demands with an optimally efficient architecture will become a competitive differentiator. To deliver the expected data speeds and volumes, data center facilities need to ensure seamless DCIs. As data center footprints and capabilities grow, the issue of power consumption looms ever larger. Operators need to take proactive steps to minimize energy consumption and use renewable energy sources to advance sustainability.
Electronics Era: Please elaborate on upcoming trends and opportunities in the Hyperscale Data Centers?
Monojit: As data centers increase in size, they will also become more distributed. Smaller edge computing centers move intelligence closer to the users while reducing latency and susceptibility to large scale distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. The trend towards distributed networks means more data centers will be interconnected through immense fiber networks, as each provider expands their reach and base to improve service levels. The role of DCIs in keeping the data ecosystem moving will become increasingly important. To deliver the expected data speeds and volumes, data center facilities need to ensure seamless DCIs.
Data center consolidation and colocation will continue to drive interoperability and reduce barriers to entry. These consolidated hyperscale locations are also well equipped to employ green technologies such as liquid cooling, solar rooftops, and wind turbines, along with advanced AI to optimize cooling and power consumption.
Hyperscale computing is truly a digital global phenomenon. Massive new submarine cables (submerged DCI) connecting diverse geographies, and perhaps even new data centers, will be deployed on the ocean floor.
VIAVI partners with hyperscale data center operators, internet content providers (ICPs), cloud service providers and those deploying robust data center interconnects (DCI) to reduce testing time, optimize optical networks, reduce latency and ensure 100% reliability that supports SLAs. VIAVI’s hyperscale data center solutions are used for planning, deployment, and management of discrete elements, from conception in the lab to servicing in the field, and beyond.
