FMC vs interlaken

[Altera_Forum]

hi, 

 what is the difference betwwen interlaken and FMC?  thx

[Altera_Forum]

You can't really compare FMC and Interlaken. There isn't anything the same about them - except, perhaps, they're both aimed at supporting higher bit rates. 

 FMC is Altera's name for a type of physical connector that they (and others) use. Interlaken is a protocol that you might run over a physical link that may (or may not) run over an FMC connector.  Have a read of: http://www.altera.com/technology/high_speed/protocols/interlaken/pro-interlaken.html (http://www.altera.com/technology/high_speed/protocols/interlaken/pro-interlaken.html) to give you an overview of Interlaken.  Altera's FMC is a custom connector made by Samtec, part number: ASP-134486-01 http://www.samtec.com/documents/webfiles/cpdf/asp-134486-01-mkt.pdf (http://www.samtec.com/documents/webfiles/cpdf/asp-134486-01-mkt.pdf) This connector is used on a number of Altera's development boards.

[Altera_Forum]

ok thx.. 

so if i truelly understood the concept, we can have an fpga board hwo has fmc connector and it implement interlaken protocol

[Altera_Forum]

The following Samtec document discussed the high speed characteristics of a cable assembly that mates with the same connector. 

http://www.samtec.com/documents/webfiles/testrpt/hsc-report_hdr-153514-xx_vita57-hpc_web.pdf (http://www.samtec.com/documents/webfiles/testrpt/hsc-report_hdr-153514-xx_vita57-hpc_web.pdf)  It discusses the cable's speed rating and suggests 15Gbps should be possible.  So, yes. You should be able to implement a physical layer link, operating an Interlaken protocol, over the FMC connector.

[Altera_Forum]

thank you a lot