SWANNANOA, N.C. and IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- SMP Data Communications, a leading developer and manufacturer of high-speed cross-connect products for communication networks, recently participated in a comprehensive demonstration of 10GBASE-T products in operation at the Solarflare(R) Communications test facility in Irvine, California.

The validation trials to demonstrate 10GBASE-T operation over Category 6A cabling were performed on a 100 meter channel. The trials were run in a 100 meter, worst-case channel configuration as specified in the draft TIA augmented Category 6 standard, currently under development in the TIA TR 42.7 subcommittee. The channel configuration consisted of six around one (6A1) cables, bundled every eight inches. The equipment used for channel performance validation was Solarflare Communications 10Xpress(TM) 10GBASE-T PHYs that are currently sampling to OEM customers.

Bi-directional Ethernet traffic was sent over Solarflare's 10GBASE-T link using two 10Gb/s traffic generators with XAUI interfaces. At the same time, bi-directional 10GBASE-T traffic was running on all six neighboring channels simulating a worst-case alien crosstalk environment. All channels were configured for the maximum 100m length with four connectors in accordance with IEEE 802.3an 10GBASE-T standard and the draft TIA 568-B.2-10 Augmented Category 6 standard. There were no CRC errors in the received frames on both ends over several hours of testing.

Participating with Solarflare to provide representative channel configurations for the first functional testing of 10GBASE-T over Category 6A cabling demonstrates SMP's ongoing commitment to provide state-of-the-art connectivity products. These products not only exceed compliance to industry standards but are proven to perform as demonstrated by Solarflare's 10GBASE-T validation testing.

"Our competition offers connectivity products that only operate effectively when combined with the cable they also manufacture, in essence a 'tuned system' that costs the customer a premium and is not truly interoperable," stated Bill Reynolds, VP and general manager of SMP Data Communications. "This is especially true with hard-to-meet emerging standards and protocols such as 10GBASE-T and Augmented Category 6. SMP connectivity is designed to focus on verifiable throughput as well as 'the standards.' The US-made superior quality of our connectivity, derived from our own intellectual property, allows SMP to deliver connectivity that is economical and truly interoperable. This testing is a testament to our products capabilities and quality designs."

"This testing proves the reliability and robustness of the 10GBASE-T cabling and PHY products," said Bruce Tolley, VP of marketing at Solarflare. "These products are available today."

About SMP Data Communications

SMP Data Communications, headquartered in Swannanoa, North Carolina, is internationally recognized for its role in establishing the world's data/communications standards, through its innovative-patented technologies. SMP, founded in 1990, manufactures and develops copper and fiber passive connectivity hardware components for use in commercial and residential applications. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Preformed Line Products (PLPC) of Cleveland, Ohio. For more information about SMP's complete product line visit our website at http://www.smpdata.com/

About Solarflare Communications

Solarflare Communications Inc. is a leading silicon vendor delivering Ethernet products that enable the rapid adoption of 10 Gigabit for data center and enterprise networks. Solarflare is the first company to demonstrate and sample to customers a 10GBASE-T PHY reaching 100 meters over an IEEE 802.3an standards-compliant Category 6A link. The company's high-performance Ethernet solutions will lower the cost of 10G networking for data center and enterprise customers. The privately held company is headquartered in Irvine, California with a development center in Cambridge, UK. For more information, visit http://www.solarflare.com/.

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CONTACT: Heather Johnson, Marketing Services Specialist, SMP Data
Communications, +1-828-298-2260 ext. 162, heather.johnson@smpdata.com; or SMP
Data Communications Sales, +1-800-880-7674, sales.smp@smpdata.com; or Sacha
Arts of Slider & Associates, +1-408-356-3099, sacha@sliderassociates.com, for
Solarflare

Web site: http://www.smpdata.com/

Web site: http://www.solarflare.com/