VSC8256
Quad Channel 1G/10GBASE-KR to SFI Ethernet Repeater
VSC8256 is a quad 1G/10G serial-to-serial, protocol-agnostic repeater/
retimer that integrates hardware-based host-side only 10GBASE-KR
auto-negotiation and training in a small form factor, low-power FCBGA
ideal for a wide array of board-level signal integrity applications.
Highlights
The quad channel VSC8256 device operates as a 10 GbE LAN,
10G WAN, 40 GbE (4 x 10G), as well as 1G legacy KR repeater with
integrated cross-point switching enabling configurable line ordering for
protection and broadcasting flexibility.
• Data rates supported include
10.3125 Gbps LAN mode, 9.95328 Gbps
WAN mode, and 1.25 Gbps mode
Target applications for the VSC8256 device include switching, IP edge
router connectivity, rack mount server access through backplane, fiber
and copper cable connectivity, and standalone server access (in LAN on
motherboard designs or separate network adapters).
The VSC8256 device delivers excellent jitter attenuation with low power.
It is also well-suited for SFP+ and QSFP+ based optical modules and
direct attach copper cabling as well as challenging backplane interface
applications.
10 GbE
Its highly flexible clocking options support LAN and WAN operation
using a single 156.25 MHz reference clock rate. Support for
Synchronous Ethernet (SyncE) is also included.
10 GbE Line Card or NIC
• Standards supported include IEEE 802.3ae,
IEEE 802.3ap, SFF-8431, ITU-T G.8261,
and ITU-T G.8262
• Signal conditioner mode supports protocolagnostic data rates
• Support for SFP+/QSFP+ line modules
and 10GBASE-KR backplanes between
1.25 Gbps and 10.3125 Gbps (including
host-side auto-negotiation and training)
Applications
• Multi-port serial-to-serial signal conditioning
• 10GBASE-KR-compliant backplane
transceivers
• Multi-port XFI/KR to SFI/SFP+ 10 GbE
switch cards, router cards, and network
adapters
Switch Modules
Module
Quad
10 GbE
MAC/NIC
Module
VSC8256
10 G
Switch
VSC8256
Module
Module
4 × 10G
4 × 10G
4 × 1G
10GBASE-KR
Backplane
4 x 10G
4 x 1G
4 x 10G
4 x 1G
Microsemi makes no warranty, representation, or guarantee regarding the information contained herein or the suitability of its products and services for any particular purpose, nor does Microsemi assume any liability
whatsoever arising out of the application or use of any product or circuit. The products sold hereunder and any other products sold by Microsemi have been subject to limited testing and should not be used in conjunction
with mission-critical equipment or applications. Any performance specifications are believed to be reliable but are not verified, and Buyer must conduct and complete all performance and other testing of the products, alone
and together with, or installed in, any end-products. Buyer shall not rely on any data and performance specifications or parameters provided by Microsemi. It is the Buyer’s responsibility to independently determine suitability
of any products and to test and verify the same. The information provided by Microsemi hereunder is provided “as is, where is” and with all faults, and the entire risk associated with such information is entirely with the Buyer.
Microsemi does not grant, explicitly or implicitly, to any party any patent rights, licenses, or any other IP rights, whether with regard to such information itself or anything described by such information. Information provided in
this document is proprietary to Microsemi, and Microsemi reserves the right to make any changes to the information in this document or to any products and services at any time without notice.
VSC8256
Quad Channel 1G/10GBASE-KR to SFI Ethernet Repeater
Built-in Self-Test and SyncE
Flexibility and Tools
The VSC8256 device provides a complete suite of on-chip instrumentation including built-in self-test (BIST) functions, line-side
and client-side circuit loopbacks, pattern generation, and error
detection.
• VScope input signal monitoring integrated circuit
• Host-side and line-side loopbacks with BIST functions
• Programmable analog signal, invert, amplitude, slew, pre-emphasis, and equalization
• Flexible clocking options that enable Layer 1 support for Synchronous Ethernet
• Passive copper cable support for lowest connectivity cost
Range of Support
• Compliant with IEEE 802.3-2012 and SFF-8431 electrical (SFI)
specifications
• 9.95 Gbps WAN and 10.3 Gbps LAN operation, as well as
1.25 Gbps Ethernet support
• Standard SFP+ and QSFP+ applications
• 10GBASE-KR (IEEE 802.3-2012) for 10G backplanes, including 1.25 Gbps and 10.3 Gbps auto-negotiation (host-side)
• Adaptive equalization receiver and programmable multi-tap
transmitter pre-emphasis
• SPI, MDIO, and two-wire serial slave management interfaces
Related Products
Visit www.microsemi.com for information about these related
products:
• VSC8257 and VSC8258
• VSC8489, VSC8490, and VSC8491
• VSC8582 and VSC8584
• VSC7442, VSC7444, and VSC7448
• VSC7460, VSC7462, and VSC7468
Key Specifications
• 950 mW, typical, for each bidirectional channel
• 1.2 V and 1.0 V core power supplies (2.5 V TTL supply)
Host
LCPLL
Clocking Network for Timing and Retiming
(including SyncE support)
Line
4 × 10G/1G
LCPLL Serial Lanes
Port 0
XFI/KR/1 GbE
SD10G
Elastic Buffer
SD10G
Port 0
SFP+/KR/1GE
Port 1
XFI/KR/1 GbE
SD10G
Elastic Buffer
SD10G
Port 1
SFP+/KR/1GE
Port 2
XFI/KR/1 GbE
SD10G
Elastic Buffer
SD10G
Port 2
SFP+/KR/1GE
Port 3
XFI/KR/1 GbE
SD10G
Elastic Buffer
SD10G
Port 3
SFP+/KR/1GE
SPI/MDIO/TWS
Microsemi Corporate Headquarters
One Enterprise, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 USA
Within the USA: +1 (800) 713-4113
Outside the USA: +1 (949) 380-6100
Sales: +1 (949) 380-6136
Fax: +1 (949) 215-4996
email: sales.support@microsemi.com
www.microsemi.com
SPI Slave
MDIO Slave
TWS Slave
TWS Master
Line
Host/Client
4 × 10G/1G
Serial Lanes
TWS
Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC) offers a comprehensive portfolio of semiconductor and system solutions for communications, defense and security, aerospace, and industrial markets. Products include high-performance and radiationhardened analog mixed-signal integrated circuits, FPGAs, SoCs, and ASICs; power management products; timing and
synchronization devices and precise time solutions; voice processing devices; RF solutions; discrete components; enterprise storage and communications solutions, security technologies, and scalable anti-tamper products; Ethernet solutions;
Power-over-Ethernet ICs and midspans; custom design capabilities and services. Microsemi is headquartered in Aliso Viejo,
California, and has approximately 4,800 employees worldwide. Learn more at www.microsemi.com.
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