Metro Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet Applications
Posted by Joseph Brochin
Gigabit Ethernet Applications-Is It A Fit For Your Organization?
By Michael Lemm
In general 10 Gigabit Ethernet links are deployed in parts of an enterprise or service provider network where large numbers of Gigabit Ethernet links are being aggregated. This most commonly occurs in the network core, but as gigabit-to-the desktop deployments continue to grow the need for 10 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks from the network edge will emerge. Following are some common uses or applications for 10 Gigabit Ethernet.
Enterprise
As all enterprise applications converge on the common Ethernet backbone, the network must be able to gracefully support a new array of bandwidth hungry applications such as storage, backups and video. To effectively deal with this onslaught of bandwidth demand, forward-thinking network architects are designing enterprise networks with
10 Gigabit Ethernet to meet current and future needs.
Starting from the edge of the network, as gigabit-to-the-desktop deployments continue to grow, the need for 10 gigabit uplinks from a wiring closet switch to handle the performance demands of power users will emerge. Backbone links to entire floors or buildings may run over optical fibers at gigabit rates, while drops to desktop workstations may need to be no faster than 100 Mbps. Naturally, with this upsurge in bandwidth, demand 10 Gigabit Ethernet will be used as a high-speed interconnection between multiple buildings. These buildings could be in close proximity on a self-contained “campus”, or could be many miles apart and be connected by dark fiber provided by a local service provider or municipality. Due to the limited distance of 10 Gigabit Ethernet on multimode fiber (MMF), singlemode fiber (SMF) must be deployed or leased to support 10 gigabit building interconnects.
In an enterprise data center, 10 Gigabit Ethernet can be used in a variety of applications such as cluster computing, server attachment and storage interconnect.
High Performance Cluster Computing (HPCC)
Server clusters are a group of tens, hundreds or even thousands of relatively inexpensive (e.g. 1U Linux servers) computers (referred to as nodes) connected in parallel to cooperatively solve large, complex problems. Cluster computing has become
a mainstream technological tool for research, financial modeling, digital image rendering and scientific applications. The connection between the various computers in the cluster is typically an Ethernet switch.
Gigabit Ethernet Servers and NAS
As servers and Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices are attached to the edge of the network at 10 gigabit speeds, the network core will have to scale proportionally by link aggregating multiple 10 Gigabit Ethernet links or eventually with 40 Gigabit Ethernet. Network architecture must take into account meeting current Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet server connectivity needs and scale upwards as the need for greater bandwidth inevitably emerges.
Storage Interconnect (iSCSI)
Fibre Channel has been the protocol of choice for storage area networking, however, with the emergence of the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) iSCSI protocol, Fibre Channel’s dominance is being challenged by IP/Ethernet. Simply put, iSCSI is an IP-based storage networking standard that facilitates data transfers by carrying SCSI (a protocol commonly used for communication between storage devices and computers) commands over IP networks. As iSCSI continues to gain in popularity, 10 Gigabit Ethernet links are the logical choice to carry the enormous volumes of data that traverse large corporate networks.
Given the extreme complex nature of designing an appropriate Gigabit Ethernet network architecture….and even deciding if it’s right for your organization….it’s strongly suggested that you not dump this whole animal on your IT staff. At a minimum….make use of free technical consultation for the bandwidth sourcing requirements from DS3-Bandwidth.com.
Michael is the owner of FreedomFire
Communications….including DS3-Bandwidth.com and Business-VoIP-Solution.com Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you’re always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Lemm
http://EzineArticles.com/?Gigabit-Ethernet-Applications-Is-It-A-Fit-For-Your-Organization?&id=133248
Is Metro Ethernet The Future?
Posted by Joseph Brochin
Why Is Metro Ethernet The Future?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Shaun_Sullivan]Shaun Sullivan
Ethernet is a fairly new type of broadband usually confined to a particular building or dense metro area. Although ethernet technology has been in use since the 1970s within local area networks, it only recently has been in use as a wide area network transmission medium as well.
Ethernet for broadband can be delivered over fiber optic cables installed throughout an entire building (also known as “lit” or “on-net”) which can substantially reduce normal provisioning time for clients residing in that building. But the main advantage is that ethernet over fiber can be run at native speeds of 10, 100, or 1000 Mbps (also known as Gig E), which is a major leap forward compared to traditional forms of accessing bandwidth.
In the past, ethernet was just a protocol used to transport the “data”, so limitations of the underlying transport mechanism applied. For example Ethernet-over-T1 (via copper) operated at a maximum data rate of 1.544 Mbps, and Ethernet-over-DS3 operated at a max of 45 Mbps. Now because of the fact that new equipment specially made for extending ethernet’s range have entered the market, limitations have been significantly reduced or eliminated altogether. It’s now possible to augment and lengthen the bandwidth of a fiber lit building by using ordinary copper wires, via a new concept termed as Ethernet-over-Copper (EoC) or Ethernet-over-Serial/DS1 (EoS). This is speculated to revolutionize the industry if/when it becomes widely supported by the fiber carrying telcos. Ethernet provides significant cost savings over SONET, ATM, or Frame Relay circuits, and is the best technology for support of IP applications.
Over time, Metro Ethernet will overwhelm SONET in the MAN/WAN market. Ethernet is cheaper, has better economies of scale and allows for simpler, more unified networks. Ethernet is at the gates, and it’s coming in. The market for managed Metro Ethernet services is expected to grow by 30 per cent a year until 2010, when it will top $25 billion worldwide.
Shaun Sullivan
Telecommunications Broker/Consultant
Ph: (512) 342-2173
TF: (877) 993-2804
[mailto:info@bandwidthseek.net]info@bandwidthseek.net http://www.bandwidthseek.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shaun_Sullivan http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Is-Metro-Ethernet-The-Future?&id=1071404