Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
at typical Internet speed, we have rapidly exhausted the ability of our older and
slower networks to handle the incredible demands of modern IP traffic, and the only
reasonable answer that can provide the capacity we need is 10 Gigabit Ethernet.
All state-of-the-art networking technologies seem to start at the network core.
For the typical corporate LAN, as well as the Web data center, an array of servers
is at the core. That's where we first are seeing 10 GigE. As time goes on, we will see
those 10 GigE legs extended out to other buildings on a “campus,” and eventually
10 GigE will become the preferred backbone-signaling rate.
There are both fiber and copper standards for 10 Gb cabling. Naturally, fiber
optics have led the way, and will continue to have longer reach than copper. But, 10
Gb twisted-pair copper is a reality, and as we have experienced with Gigabit
Ethernet, the copper 10 GigE interfaces will proliferate, because they are cheaper,
and most of the cable runs are inside a data center—well under 100 m. All of these
standards are in a current state of introduction or development. The chart in Table
12.8 will help sort out all of the 10 Gigabit Ethernet IEEE standards. The sections
that follow will describe the fiber and copper cabling technologies for 10 Gb oper-
ations, with an emphasis on Ethernet 802.3 standards.
10 Gigabit Standards and Cabling for Fiber
There are two parts to the 10 Gb puzzle: the networking standard and the cabling
standard to support it. At the top end of network speeds, the corresponding com-
mittees work hand-in-hand to fashion Physical layer (PHY) standards and struc-
tured cabling standards that will complement each other. In many cases, there is a
TABLE 12.8
Relevant Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet Standards
Standard
Purpose
IEEE 802.3-2002
The base standard for local and metro Ethernet. The following are
amendments to this base standard. Amendment letters run a - z,
and aa - zz.
IEEE 802.3z-1998
1 Gigabit Ethernet over Fiber (1000BaseSX, LX)
IEEE 802.3ab-1999
1 Gigabit Ethernet over Copper (1000BaseT)
IEEE 802.3ae-2002
10 Gigabit Ethernet over Fiber (10GBase-SX, LX)
IEEE 802.3af-2003
Power over Ethernet (PoE) or “DTE” power
IEEE 802.3ah-2004
Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM)
IEEE 802.3ak-2004
10 Gigabit Ethernet over Twinax - 10GBase-CX4
IEEE 802.3an
10 Gigabit Ethernet over Copper (10GBaseT)
IEEE 802.3aq
10 Gigabit Ethernet over MM Fiber 220 - 300 m (10GBase-LRM)
