Devices Support Next Gen Storage Interconnects

Accommodating 4.25 Gb/s optical and copper FC interconnects, the BCM8421, BCM8422, and BCM8426 tout advanced diagnostics, solid jitter performance, and low-power operation. For optical or copper links in Fibre Channel switches and storage arrays, the BCM8421 single-channel, bi-directional retimer/repeater promises to solve difficult channel impairments. The BCM8422 is a four-port Fibre Channel arbitrated-loop hub device that can also be configured as a dual bi-directional retimer/repeater. The BCM8426 12-port, Fibre Channel arbitrated-loop hub targets midrange to high-end storage arrays. It can be configured to connect to Fibre Channel hard disk drives in an intelligent bunch of disks (iBOD) configuration. Each port on the device has the capability of retiming or repeating to support the various configurations of back-end arbitrated loops. The devices are currently available and sampling. BROADCOM CORP., Irvine, CA. (949) 450-8700.