Extensions and future directions Some vendors offer PCIe over fiber products, with active optical cables (AOC) for PCIe switching at increased distance in PCIe expansion drawers,IBM Power Systems E870 and E880 Technical Overview and Introduction or in specific cases where transparent PCIe bridging is preferable to using a more mainstream standard (such as InfiniBand or Ethernet) that may require additional software to support it.
eXtensions AND futuRE DIrectIOns sOme vendoRS offer pcIe ovEr fIbER Products With ActIVe opTIcaL cablEs (aoc) foR pCIe sWitChinG at INcreased DiSTancE in PcIE expAnsioN dRaweRSibm PoWer syStems E870 aNd E880 teCHnical overView and iNtrOductiOn or in sPEciFic cASEs WheRE tRanSparEnt pCie bridGing is prefeRable to using a MOre maInstReAM staNdard (suCH as infinibanD Or etHernet) THaT maY ReQuIre AdDITiOnal SoftwarE to sUppOrt IT