DENOG17

Understanding and optimising transceiver efficiency using internal metrics for improved power savings
10.11.2025 , Saal A

In high-performance optical communication systems transceiver health and efficiency are critical to network reliability and energy consumption. This presentation explores the powerful capabilities of Versatile Diagnostics Monitoring (VDM) features found in modern optical transceivers (beyond the speed of 100G) with a particular focus on the Thermoelectric Cooler (TEC) current metrics. By analysing TEC current alongside temperature and cable length data we should be able to identify the optimal operating conditions that will minimise power consumption while maintaining performance. In order to prove this thesis we developed a couple of software prototypes to perform the data analysis. Using real-world VDM data this talk will demonstrate how to evaluate and visualise transceiver efficiency in terms of Watts, uncovering practical insights for engineers aiming to design or operate greener, more efficient optical networks and finally save energy.
Made by FLEXOPTIX Research - Gerhard and Thomas.

Dr. Gerhard Stein is Lead Research Engineer at FLEXOPTIX, in charge of ensuring that innovative and amazing prototypes can make it into the market.

Back in the 1990s, when he was still living in Mexico, he wrote small programs and assembled computers and network systems for customers. After his arrival in Germany, he began studying mechanical and process engineering at the TU Darmstadt, continued this at the Ruhr University Bochum, specialising computational engineering and received his doctorate in the field of simulation technology.