Agilent Technologies Announces Complete Physical Layer Solution for Next-Generation Fibre Channel Applications

Business Wire, Oct 10, 2000

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 10, 2000

Offers Fiber-Optic Transceiver, ICs for 2 Gb/s SAN Systems

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A), a leading developer of Fibre Channel solutions for storage area networks (SANs), today announced three new communications components that together supply all the functions required for a complete physical layer solution for 2 Gigabit-per-second (Gb/s) Fibre Channel systems.

The three new devices include a fiber-optic transceiver, a port bypass circuit and a serializer/deserializer (SerDes) chip. They are available as discrete devices and will be implemented in Agilent's new 2 Gb/s Fibre Channel host adapters by the end of the year.

Agilent's new HFBR-5720L fiber-optic transceiver allows designers to implement a wide range of SAN solutions for Fibre Channel applications from high-end switching systems to high-speed peripheral interfaces. The HFBR-5720L transceiver's "hot-plug" capability supports configuration changes or maintenance without having to power down the system. Designed for multimode applications up to 300 meters, the 3.3 V device complies with both the proposed specification for 2 Gb/s Fibre Channel and the existing 1 Gb/s standard. Agilent is currently providing samples of the transceiver with volume production scheduled for early 2001.

The Agilent HDMP-2630 and 2631 are the first SerDes ICs capable of supporting both 1 Gb/s and 2 Gb/s data rates. These chips convert 10-bit wide parallel data to and from a 2 Gb serial stream. Designers can set the transmit channel to a different data rate than the receive channel to support auto-negotiation. Both devices are immediately available in volume production.

Agilent's new quad port bypass circuit is the first chip of its kind targeted at 2 Gb/s SAN applications. Designed to minimize part count and reduce cost, the HDMP-0552 simplifies the migration from 1 Gb/s to 2 Gb/s designs by supporting both data rates with the same reference clock. The device's "CDR (Clock and Data Recovery) Anywhere" technology gives designers the flexibility to place the CDR after any point in the Fibre Channel loop. Agilent is currently providing samples of the device with production expected by the end of the year.

Agilent Storage Networking Solutions

Agilent is a leading supplier of Fibre Channel solutions for the rapidly expanding SAN market, providing industry-leading Tachyon Fibre Channel controllers and HBA solutions that include software and driver support for all major operating environments. Agilent also provides a complete set of components for Fibre Channel, including fiber optic transceivers, serializer/deserializer (SerDes) ICs, and port bypass circuits. Agilent has also presented early demonstrations of both the InfiniBand I/O standard, and the emerging IP SAN technology.

Additionally, Agilent is partnering with Adaptec to tailor Fibre Channel solutions for worldwide PC server OEMs and resellers. Adaptec builds Tachyon-based host adapters, and provides drivers and SAN management software backed by a strong sales, distribution, service and support infrastructure to help customers implement Fibre Channel in demanding, PC server computing environments.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a diversified technology company with approximately 46,000 employees serving customers in more than 120 countries. Agilent is a global leader in designing and manufacturing test, measurement and monitoring instruments, systems and solutions, and semiconductor and optical components. In fiscal year 1999, Agilent had net revenue of more than $8.3 billion. The company serves markets that include communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare.

Information about Agilent Technologies can be found on the Web at www.agilent.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements relating to the timing and availability of Agilent's future product offerings, that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause results of Agilent Technologies to differ materially from management's current expectations. These risks are detailed in Agilent's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 1999, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2000, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.