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Granite River Labs and Tektronix Introduce SAS-3 12Gb/s Automated Receiver Test Software for the BERTScope (GRL-SAS3-RX) | GraniteRiverLabs

Written by GRL Team | Dec 8, 2014 4:00:00 PM

Granite River Labs (GRL), a global leader in engineering services and test solutions for high speed connectivity, today announced availability of software that enables automated calibration between the Tektronix BERTScope™ BSA Bit Error Rate Tester (BERT) and Tektronix real-time scopes for SAS-3 12Gb/s receiver electrical conformance testing and characterization. The first commercially-available software of its kind, GRL-SAS3-RX provides an automated, simple, and efficient way to test 12Gb/s SAS device or host receivers to the jitter tolerance specifications of the T10 Working Draft Standard.

Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) is a point-to-point serial standard popular in mission-critical enterprise storage applications. The SAS-3 standard adds a 12 Gb/s data rate and additional measurements and specification limits for next-generation SAS devices, presenting designers with a number of test and measurement challenges. GRL-SAS3-RX eliminates the need for user interaction during testing, enabling automated calibration between the BERTScope™ and real-time scope to generate a stressed-signal conditions for SAS-3 12Gb/s receiver electrical conformance testing. GRL-SAS3-RX runs on any Windows 7 PC or Tektronix Oscilloscope.

GRL’s unique ISI channel (SAS3_EYEOPENING) calibration feature eliminates the need for fixed ISI boards and many external cables and connectors to achieve the specification’s very tight SAS3_EYEOPENING tolerance requirements. GRL-SAS3-RX supports multiple Variable ISI Hardware Solutions, including the Tektronix BERTScope™ DPP125C Digital Pre-Emphasis Processor + LE320 Linear Equalizer Variable ISI, and Artek CLE1000-A2 Low Frequency Variable ISI Generators. GRL-SAS3-RX allows engineers to automate link training and BER validation. The margin test feature stresses the receiver to failure at user-defined Jitter Frequency Steps, revealing the true capabilities of a SAS-3 receiver design.

“Together with GRL, we are excited to deliver a new SAS 12Gb/s receiver test solution,” said Brian Reich, general manager, Performance Oscilloscopes at Tektronix. “This automated solution will enable engineers to efficiently test their designs and help expedite SAS receiver test calibration for a faster time to answer.”

”GRL is proud to offer this this solution to the SAS developer community in partnership with Tektronix, and add to our list of contributions to the enterprise storage ecosystem,” said Mike Engbretson, GRL chief technology engineer. “Our SAS-3 Receiver Calibration and Test software provides engineers a valuable new tool in their arsenal to efficiently debug and validate early SAS IC and system designs.”

Key features of GRL-SAS3-RX SAS-3 12Gb/s Receiver Calibration and Test Software:

  • 100% coverage of Receiver Jitter Tolerance Tests per the SAS-3 Working Draft Standard
  • Automated ISI channel (SAS3_EYEOPENING) calibration & Jitter Margin testing at user-defined Jitter Frequency Steps
  • Support for multiple variable ISI hardware solutions
  • Simple setup, test execution, and reporting in HTML and .csv formats
  • Fully configurable and customizable

Availability:
For more information about GRL-SAS3-RX Receiver Calibration and Test Software for the BERTScope BSA Series BERTs, please contact Granite River Labs or your Tektronix sales representative (refer to Tek product GRL-SAS3-RX). For additional information or questions regarding Granite River Labs Test Solutions, including quotes, product demonstrations, software and technical assistance please contact us at: info@graniteriverlabs.com

About Tektronix
For more than sixty-five years, engineers have turned to Tektronix for test, measurement and monitoring solutions to solve design challenges, improve productivity and dramatically reduce time to market. Tektronix is a leading supplier of test equipment for engineers focused on electronic design, manufacturing, and advanced technology development. Headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, Tektronix serves customers worldwide and offers award-winning service and support. Stay on the leading edge at www.tektronix.com.

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