From
Alan Pocrass -CEO - Xmultiple Technologies,
Inc.
Higher
speed connectivity is a reality with 40/100
Ethernet server network interface cards,
switch uplinks and switches now available.
The expected June 2010 ratification of
the 802.3ba standard is not holding back
products from entering the market today
with pre-standard products being released.
Xmultiple has released products which
are available so just call us for samples.
The
IEEE started work on the 802.3ba standard
in late 2006 and defined two different
applications with 40G for server connectivity
and 100G for core switching.
Global
revenue for 10G Ethernet switches doubled
in 2008 and there is a demand for 40G
and 100G Ethernet with many companies
needed this capacity. 10G Ethernet is
now becoming a major part of the access
layer of larger networks and is being
the first choice for the client side.
With the users now using 10G for ther
needs this creates the need for 40/100
in the distribution layer and the network
core. The 802.3ba is intended to maintain
full compatibility with the installed
base of Ethernet nodes and uses the optical
fiber backplanes and copper cabling which
perserves the exising network architecture.
The
802.3ba standare is not expected to be
ratified until June 2010 however initial
interoperability testing is happen now
and companies with the need for these
speed will not wait for the standard and
are moving with their development of products.
The reasons for the driving demand for
40/100G Ethernet are the same factors
currently pushing 10G which is data center
virtualizaiton and storage and high-definition
video conferencing and medical imaging.
Carrier's
like AT&T and Verizon are providing
10G Ethernet LAN and Etherrnet Virual
Private Line services to custoemr in 100
U.S. metro markets. At 10G and 40/100G
Ethernet users have to be aware of the
need to ensure precise clocking synchronization
between systems and especially between
equipment from different vendors. If precise
clocking is not achieved this will increase
latency and packet loss. This latency
issue is a bigger issue than many companies
realize and at these speeds the specifications
premit only a little variance for clocks.
Therefore at 10G, just the smallest difference
in the clocks between ports can cause
high latency and packet loss issues. At
40G it is even a large issue with the
precise clocking requirements. Cabling
infrastructure for 40/100G must be the
appropriate grade and length of fiber
for seamless and smooth networking operation.
The physical interfaces (PHY) for 40G
Ethernet include a range to cover distances
inside th edata center up to 100 meters
to connect the wide range of different
server form factors. They will require
a parallel fiber capabiltiy. The 100G
Ethernet rate includes distances and media
appropriate for connections for intr-office
and inter-office applications. The PHY
for 40G Ethernet are 1 meter backplane,
10 meter copper and 100 meter multimode
fiber and 100G is 10 kilometer and 40
kilometer single-mode fiber. http://www.ieee802.org/3/ba/
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