This presentation addresses a new methodology for 12 Gbps interoperability that combines a concerted family of pathological channels, internal eye monitoring, and external EQ simulation tools, providing insight into an EQ optimization strategy that addresses the specific channel’s mix of crosstalk noise, jitter, and channel loss. This also provides a backplane designer the ability to configure a high-loss, crosstalk aggressed system. The method, combining co-simulation channel optimization, a reconfigurable channel platform, and receiver eye monitoring, has two key benefits; the separation of channel eye opening versus un-equalizable Deterministic Jitter (Dj), and the capability to map loss-crosstalk space for a particular SERDES channel pair, a new concept in SERDES interoperability evaluation. The method is described in detail, followed by relevant case examples using hardware specifically designed for this endeavor. Finally, we compare eye monitor results with the original co-simulation, validating the method.