Echola launches dual LC switches for AI network testing

Key Takeaways

• Echola’s new OPX4D‑SM and OPX8D‑SM OptiShare switches deliver 800 Gb/s or 1.6 Tb/s optical bandwidth via paired duplex LC ports.
• Both models use a 2 × FR4 PCB layout, support single‑mode LC fiber, and require no breakout cables—plug‑and‑play installation.
• The switches enable one‑to‑many resource sharing, allowing a single high‑cost tester (BER, protocol analyzer, etc.) to serve 4‑8 DUTs simultaneously, with custom expansions up to 32 ports.
• Remote control is possible through HTTPS web UI, SSH CLI, and REST APIs, facilitating fully automated test flows for AI GPU‑cluster validation.
• Architecture is protocol‑ and bit‑rate‑transparent, operating purely at the physical layer without O/E/O conversion, which preserves signal integrity and reduces latency.

Overview of Echola’s Dual‑LC OptiShare Switches

Echola Systems has introduced two optical switch models—OPX4D‑SM and OPX8D‑SM—designed specifically for the demanding validation environments of AI‑driven data‑center GPU clusters. By consolidating high‑speed optical test assets onto a single switch, engineers can cut capital expenditure and eliminate manual fiber re‑patching, accelerating both development and production testing cycles.

Product Portfolio

Both switches are plug‑and‑play: simply insert compatible transceivers and connect standard LC fiber; the internal routing matrix automatically aligns the selected DUT with the external tester.

Architecture & Performance Specs

• Optical bandwidth: Up to 1.6 Tb/s using dual‑rate (800 Gb/s × 2) mode, supporting NRZ and PAM4 signaling.
• Signal integrity: No optical‑to‑electrical‑to‑optical (O/E/O) conversion; the switch behaves as a passive, loss‑controlled matrix, preserving eye‑diagram quality within < 0.5 dB insertion loss and < 30 ps skew across all ports.
• Latency: Sub‑nanosecond switching time (< 200 ps) ensures that test results reflect true device performance without added delay.
• Scalability: Custom firmware allows 1 × 32 configurations, enabling large‑scale test farms with a single chassis.

Resource Sharing & Test Automation Benefits

Traditional AI‑cluster validation requires a dedicated high‑speed tester per DUT, inflating equipment budgets by 150 %–200 %. OptiShare’s single‑resource sharing model reduces that overhead dramatically:

• Cost efficiency: One BER tester can serve up to 8 DUTs (or 32 with custom expansion), cutting capital spend by up to 80 %.
• Operational speed: Automated fiber switching eliminates manual re‑patching, reducing test‑cycle time from 30 min per DUT to under 2 min for a full regression run.
• Repeatability: Remote selection of ports via API guarantees deterministic test paths, essential for statistical validation and compliance reporting.

AI‑Scale Validation Use Cases

1. GPU‑cluster network verification – Validate inter‑GPU links (e.g., NVIDIA HDR InfiniBand, AMD ROCE) at 400 Gb/s and 800 Gb/s.
2. Optical interoperability testing – Cross‑vendor assessment of transceiver modules and line cards.
3. Automated regression – Continuous integration pipelines can invoke REST calls to switch ports, run BER tests, and log results without human intervention.
4. Production line testing – High‑throughput factories can test each switch or line card on a shared test bench, maintaining throughput of > 200 units/hr.

Integration & Management Interfaces

Echola equips the OptiShare family with three access methods: