The setup included Alphawave Semi's PCIe subsystem, which incorporates the PiCORE Controller IP and PipeCORE PHY, and was able to transmit and receive PCIe 6.0 traffic through Nubis' XT1600 linear optical engine. This configuration achieved a PCIe 6.0 x8 optical link at a rate of 64 GT/s per fiber without the necessity for retimers, emphasizing the technical viability and rapid transmission capabilities of the PCIe over Optics solution.

Scott Schube, VP of Marketing at Nubis Communications, detailed the integration of 16 full-duplex lanes within a single optical engine, highlighting its compatibility with the maximum bandwidth of PCIe x16, suitable for next-generation computing and storage. The demonstration of the Nubis XT1600 alongside Alphawave Semi’s PCIe 6.0 Controller and PHY IP illustrated the efficiency of a PCIe 6.0 x8 optical link over fiber optics.

Optical PCIe technology is notable for its ability to extend link distances while preserving bandwidth, a critical feature for supporting expansive AI/ML server clusters across various nodes and fostering innovation in new disaggregated network architectures. The Nubis XT1600 linear optical engine is currently available for sample evaluation, and interested entities are encouraged to contact Nubis for more information. It is important to note that this custom solution by Nubis and Alphawave Semi is distinct from the optical PCIe initiative by PCI-SIG.

Tony Chan Carusone, CTO at Alphawave Semi, remarked on the impact of AI applications on data center networks, noting the trend towards large, disaggregated server clusters spanning greater distances. This trend has increased interest in PCIe over Optics solutions among various customers. The collaboration between Nubis and Alphawave Semi aims to leverage Alphawave Semi’s expertise in connectivity IP and silicon to facilitate PCIe optical connectivity solutions that bolster AI computing and data infrastructure performance.