- Keysight Technologies is enhancing its FITS (Functional Interconnect Test Solutions) portfolio with the FITS-16CH, a platform designed for the functional validation of optical and electrical interconnects used in data center and computing infrastructure dedicated to artificial intelligence.
- Equipped with 16 transmit and 16 receive channels, the platform enables digital-layer error rate measurements on links operating at 106 and 212 Gbps per lane, covering 800G and 1.6T interconnect generations.
The platform complements electrical and optical compliance testing by evaluating the behavior of interconnect assemblies as a complete system. It combines bit error rate (BER) measurements with an analysis of Forward Error Correction (FEC) mechanisms. This approach characterizes link operating margins at the system level, going beyond measurements taken solely at the physical layer.
The FITS-16CH solution supports a variety of interconnect technologies, including Fully Retimed Optics (FRO), Active Optical Cables (AOC), Linearly Retimed Optics (LRO), and Linear Pluggable Optics (LPO). For electrical links, it covers Active Copper Cables (ACC), Active Electrical Cables (AEC), Direct Attach Copper (DAC) cables, and high-speed “flyover” copper cables used in networking equipment and high-performance computing systems.
16 Transmit and Receive Channels for System-Level Testing
Compared to the FITS-8CH system, this new model doubles the number of available channels. Its 16 transmit and 16 receive channels allow for the testing of complete assemblies using two Module Compliance Boards (MCBs). Channel groups and MCB controls can be operated independently, enabling simultaneous testing across multiple lanes.
The platform also features an insertion loss budget that accommodates links with high signal loss, as well as the test setups used by customers. This capability is particularly relevant for validating active copper cables and high-speed “flyover” cables.
Lane calibration can be automated via the instrument’s Windows 11 interface, in conjunction with a Keysight DCA-X series analyzer. The system adjusts the coefficients of the digital finite impulse response (FIR) filters applied at the transmitter to optimize the electrical eye opening. According to Keysight, this procedure reduces setup time to just a few minutes—compared to the hours, days, or even weeks required for manual calibration.
Integration into automated test benches
The FITS-16CH solution can function as a transmitter or receiver when paired with Keysight’s Digital Communications Analyzers (DCAs), Bit Error Rate Testers (BERTs), and UXR-series real-time oscilloscopes.
For test automation, the platform includes an SCPI-compatible programming interface. The associated software enables real-time generation of graphs and result tables, provides pass/fail status indicators, and produces reports in PDF and CSV formats.
The solution is designed for various stages of the interconnect lifecycle—from product development and qualification to manufacturing quality control, as well as the validation of network infrastructure both before and after deployment. It can also be used to compare the performance of different interconnection solutions in data centers.
