Optical interface failure rates

Mon Dec 23 13:06:10 UTC 2002

Historically, optical interfaces have had lower reliability (MTBF) than 
electrical interfaces, of the same rate, due to a high burnout rate for the 
lasers.  This has apparently changed now, and optical failure rates are 
lower.

Do customers perceive this as true?

Do you know of estimates for MTBF for lasers vs copper, for example, 1Gig 
ether O versus E?   Assume that we're talking VSR usage; otherwise copper 
wouldn't be suitable.

And in terms of all optical interface types, if you want roughly 10Gbps 
speed but are agnostic about how, what about OC192C POS interfaces versus 
10Gig Ether?

thanks,
-david waitzman