Overview
ISO/IEC 11518-9:1999 - Information technology: High-Performance Parallel Interface, Part 9: Serial Specification (HIPPI-Serial) defines the physical-layer specification for sending HIPPI data serially over fibre-optic links. The standard supports 800 Mbit/s (32-bit, 100 MByte/s) and 1 600 Mbit/s (64-bit, 200 MByte/s) operation, distances up to 10 km, and signalling compatible with HIPPI-PH (ISO/IEC 11518-1). HIPPI-Serial can be implemented as a host-native interface or as an external extender for HIPPI-PH ports.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Data framing and encoding: Defines a 24-bit frame composed of a 20-bit data field plus a 4-bit coding nibble. Encoding rules for data, control (F0/F1), and overhead (M0/M1) are specified to preserve HIPPI-PH semantics.
- Serialisation and link architecture: Details Transmitter Link Interface (TLI), receiver sections, SUBMUX/SUBDEMUX functional units and timing/clocking requirements for serial operation.
- Link control and reset: Specifies signalling sequences for link initialization, automatic link reset, and debounced control handling for robust low‑latency operation.
- Optical interface: Optical specifications include support for long‑wavelength and short‑wavelength optics, single‑mode and multi‑mode fibre options, connector guidance, eye‑mask and optical measurements relevant to receiver sensitivity and return loss.
- Simplex/duplex and configurations: Supports simplex and dual‑simplex configurations, and can be used point-to-point as an integrated interface or as an extender to extend HIPPI-PH beyond 25 m.
- Robustness and testability: Includes normative references and annexes for implementation suggestions, optical test practices (FOTP/OFSTP), eye measurements, loss budget examples and loopback/test procedures.
Applications and users
- HPC and supercomputing vendors implementing HIPPI host interfaces or interconnects where legacy HIPPI traffic needs to be carried over longer distances.
- Storage system and SAN appliance designers requiring low‑latency, high‑bandwidth links between hosts and storage arrays.
- Optical transceiver and subsystem manufacturers building HIPPI‑Serial compliant modules, SUBMUX/SUBDEMUX units and extender products.
- System integrators and test labs performing interoperability testing, optical link budgeting and compliance verification.
Related standards
- ISO/IEC 11518-1 (HIPPI‑PH) - mechanical, electrical and signalling protocol
- ISO/IEC 11518 (other parts: HIPPI-FP, HIPPI-LE, HIPPI-ATM, etc.)
- ITU‑T G.652 (single-mode fibre characteristics)
- IEC 61300 series and IEC 61280 series (fibre test and measurement practices)
Keywords: ISO/IEC 11518-9:1999, HIPPI-Serial, HIPPI-SERIAL, HIPPI-PH, high-performance parallel interface, serial fibre-optic, 800 Mbit/s, 1600 Mbit/s, SUBMUX, SUBDEMUX, 24-bit frame, optical interface.