Tech Primer

10 Gigabit Ethernet

What is 10 Gigabit Ethernet?

It is a networking technology that offers data speeds of up to 10 billion bits per second, and has been standardised in IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.a. Described as a ‘disruptive’ technology, 10 Gigabit Ethernet offers a less expensive means of moving data in the network backbone. It has the potential to supplant ATM and SONET.

How does it differ from other Ethernet technologies?

Fast Ethernet transmits data at 100 megabits per second, Gigabit Ethernet provides for a higher level of backbone support of up to 1,000 megabits per second, and 10 Gigabit Ethernet provides support for 10 billion bits per second. Like Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet,

10 Gigabit Ethernet uses full-duplex transmission permitting it to be extended over considerable distances. When compared to copper wire, although the installation is cheaper, the link distance provided by copper is shorter.

On a multimode fibre, 10 Gigabit Ethernet supports distances up to 300 metres, whereas, on single mode fibre, it supports up to 40 kilometres.

Are there applications that can take advantage of this technology?

Bandwidth-intensive applications are increasingly being deployed, and service providers are looking for a solution to cut costs while continuing to deliver a high level of reliability. 10 Gigabit Ethernet could well be the solution for these requirements.

It is an evolution of the IEEE 802.3 standards on speed and distance, and using it is thereby easier as it offers similar network management features. Since the medium access control (MAC) layer of 10 Gigabit Ethernet is similar to the MAC layers of previous Ethernet technologies, changeover becomes faster and simpler.

Is it scalable?

10 Gigabit Ethernet enables network providers to scale their Ethernet networks from 10, 100 or 1,000 Mbps to 10,000 Mbps. This technology will be especially relevant for data centres where high performance is a necessity. Some applications that can benefit from 10 Gigabit Ethernet are disaster recovery, remote backup, storage on demand and streaming media.

Is 10 Gigabit Ethernet available over copper?

Copper can stand in for fibre in the data centre. A 10 Gigabit cabling over copper has already been launched. Krone Communications was the first vendor to launch a product offering in this category, followed by Systimax Solutions. Market analysts feel that breaking the barrier of 10 Gigabits over copper will render the cabling infrastructure in data centres cost-effective.

For more information visit: www.ethermanage.com/ethernet/10gig.html