PLX Announces New 10GBase-T PHY Optimized for ToR Switches

The PLX TN8045 quad-port 10GBase-T PHY offers the same industry-leading cutting-edge functionally and performance as the TN8044, which is housed in a larger 27mm-square package, except the TN8045 eliminates the XAUI interface. Designed using PLX’s third generation of PHY on 40nm lithography node, the unique TN8045 features a 10GBase-KR backplane interface, enhanced Energy Efficient Ethernet (eEEE) support, and is the industry’s only 10GBase-T PHY with on-chip MACSec security and encryption hardware. PLX also offers the most comprehensive and proven suite of electromagnetic interference (EMI) mitigation hardware.

According to Crehan Research, 10GBase-T ToR switch ports are expected to see in excess of a twenty-fold increase over the next two years. “Reduced power, price, and footprint on 10GBase-T PHYs are enabling cost-effective 48-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet ToR switches to address the impending bandwidth needs of both cloud providers and enterprises,” said Seamus Crehan, president of Crehan Research.

“High-density ToR switches are quickly becoming the mainstay of modern data center architectures, and the new TeraPHY TN8045 is designed to provide state-of-the-art 10GBase-T capabilities to this class of switch,” said Ron Cates, PLX vice president of marketing, networking products. “The new 25mm by 25mm packages fit perfectly behind an array of RJ45 connectors with integrated magnetics, providing the highest density possible.”