Cisco Technology, Inc.

Stefano Riboldi

Marco Mazzini

Cristiana Muzio

D Brice Achkir

According to an example implementation, a universal tester includes a host interface slot connected to a first pluggable host card during an electrical test mode of operation to provide a stressed electrical signal to a host under test. The host interface slot is connected to a second pluggable host card during an optical test mode of operation, the second pluggable host card including an electrical-optical conversion block to convert a stressed electrical signal to a stressed optical signal that is provided to a host under test. A stressor generator may operation in pass-through mode or a loop-back mode.

Universal test system for testing electrical and optical hosts

Methods and apparatus for reducing distortion in signals propagating through cables at data rates of at least 10 gigabits per second (Gbps) are provided. By connecting such direct attach cables with an active cable extender assembly described herein, data signals may be reshaped, retimed, and/or emphasized in an effort to increase the cable length between network devices while still complying with the signal quality requirements of communication standards, such as the SFF-8431 MSA, the SFF-8461 MSA, and the IEEE 802.3ba CR4/10 standards for Ethernet communications. Copper cable solutions with such increased cable length possible between network devices may provide substantial cost reduction when compared to optical cable solutions. Furthermore, by potentially increasing the signal quality effectively transmitted by a host, solutions utilizing embodiments of the present invention may guarantee host-to-host interoperability.

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Milan, Italy

Stefano Riboldi