Nvidia, Cisco Plan New Optics Format for AI Data Centers
Nvidia and Cisco announced plans to introduce USFP, a new pluggable optical transceiver format for AI data centers. The new standard aims to increase bandwidth within the same footprint and reduce network power consumption.
Technology companies Nvidia and Cisco announced on October 12 their intention to introduce USFP (Universal Small Form Factor Pluggable), a new optical transceiver format designed for AI data centers. The initiative aims to increase network bandwidth while maintaining the existing physical footprint.
The new format also seeks to reduce the energy consumption attributed to networking within data centers. Initial USFP modules are planned to utilize an OSFP (Octal Small Form Factor Pluggable) size and support speeds of 400 Gb/s per lane, offering 16 full-duplex lanes for switches and SuperNICs.
Nvidia and Cisco are collaborating with TE Connectivity and Amphenol on the development of the necessary connectors and modules. The companies plan to establish an open industry specification through a community-led multi-source project, fostering wider adoption.
This announcement highlights a move towards next-generation networking solutions crucial for scaling AI infrastructure. Industry trends, such as those indicated by Broadcom regarding 400G-per-lane optics, point towards future switching capacities of 200T for AI and cloud environments.