Ethernet Technology and Data Center Networks

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Questions and Answers

What organization develops the protocol and signaling standards for Wi-Fi?

Iridium

IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN committee (correct)

Ethernet Committee

Wi-Fi Alliance

What is the term used to describe the ability of Wi-Fi enabled devices to communicate with Wi-Fi access points regardless of the manufacturer?

Interoperability (correct)

Wireless fidelity

Satellite Wi-Fi hotspot

Ethernet connection

What is the dominant technology for wireless LANs?

Wi-Fi (correct)

Satellite Wi-Fi hotspot

Ethernet

Iridium

What is the main reason for the economic benefit of Wi-Fi in the enterprise?

Increased use of laptops, tablets, and smartphones Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Wi-Fi Alliance?

Creates test suites to clarify interoperability for commercial products Signup and view all the answers

What is the main reason for the transition to a Wi-Fi centered enterprise?

Increased use of laptops, tablets, and smartphones Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of Iridium in the context of Wi-Fi?

First company to develop a satellite Wi-Fi hotspot Signup and view all the answers

What is the expected trend in data rates for satellite Wi-Fi hotspots?

Data rates will increase significantly Signup and view all the answers

What is driving the growth of 100-Gbps Ethernet in data centers?

Expansion of Internet multimedia content and web applications Signup and view all the answers

What is the main objective of the 25 Gigabit Ethernet Consortium?

To boost performance and slash interconnect cost per Gbps Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary use case for 2.5/5 Gbps Ethernet?

Supporting IEEE 802.11ac wireless traffic in a wired network Signup and view all the answers

What is the expected future development in Ethernet standards?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

Which industry segment is likely to be an early adopter of 100-Gbps Ethernet?

Internet exchanges/ISP core routing Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary driver for the growth of 10-Gbps Ethernet in metro networks?

Video on demand Signup and view all the answers

What is the current status of the 400-Gbps Ethernet standard?

No timetable in place for its development Signup and view all the answers

What is the MGBASE-T Alliance primarily working on?

Overseeing the development of 2.5/5 Gbps Ethernet standards Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary responsibility of the 802.3 group in the IEEE 802 LAN standards?

Issuing standards for LANs referred to as Ethernet Signup and view all the answers

Which organization supports and originates activities spanning from incubation of new Ethernet technologies to interoperability testing?

The Ethernet Alliance Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the standards committee responsible for issuing standards for LANs?

IEEE 802.3 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not a responsibility of the IEEE 802 LAN standards committee?

Developing wide-area networking technologies Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the IEEE 802 LAN standards committee and Ethernet?

The IEEE 802 LAN standards committee issues standards for LANs referred to as Ethernet Signup and view all the answers

Which organization is responsible for developing and issuing standards for Ethernet?

The IEEE 802 LAN standards committee Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of the IEEE 802 LAN standards committee?

To issue standards for LANs that are referred to commercially as Ethernet Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the organization that supports and originates activities for Ethernet?

The Ethernet Alliance Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ethernet Characteristics

Ethernet is a standardized technology, making it easy to mix different speeds and vendor equipment.

Ethernet in the Data Center

Ethernet dominates the data center due to its ability to handle massive volumes of data among networked servers and storage units.
High-speed Ethernet fiber links and switches provide the necessary networking infrastructure.
Backplane Ethernet runs over copper jumper cables, providing up to 100 Gbps over short distances.
Blade servers house multiple server modules in a single chassis.

Ethernet for Wide-Area Networking

Until recently, Ethernet was not significant in wide-area networking, but it is gradually becoming more popular.
Telecommunications and network providers are switching to Ethernet from alternative schemes to support wide-area access.
Other wide-area options include dedicated T1 lines, SDH lines, and ATM.

Carrier Ethernet

Carrier Ethernet is one of the fastest-growing Ethernet technologies.

Ethernet Standards

IEEE 802.3 group is responsible for issuing standards for LANs referred to as Ethernet.
The Ethernet Alliance supports and originates activities from incubation of new Ethernet technologies to interoperability testing, demonstrations, and education.

Ethernet Data Rates

1983: 10 Mbps
1995: 100 Mbps
1998: 1 Gbps

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi was standardized by IEEE 802.11 and has become the dominant technology for wireless LANs.
Wi-Fi first replaced Ethernet cabling for connecting devices in the home environment.
It provides a cost-effective way to access the Internet.
Wi-Fi is essential for implementing the Internet of Things (IoT).

Public Wi-Fi

Hotspots have become readily available.
Remote areas can support hotspots with the development of satellite Wi-Fi hotspots, such as Iridium.

Enterprise Wi-Fi

The economic benefit of Wi-Fi is most clearly seen in the enterprise.
Approximately half of all enterprise network traffic is via Wi-Fi rather than traditional Ethernet.
Two trends have driven the transition to a Wi-Fi-centered enterprise: increased demand for mobile devices and the arrival of Gigabit Ethernet.

Wi-Fi Standards

Interoperability is essential to the success of Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi enabled devices must be able to communicate with Wi-Fi access points regardless of manufacturer.
Interoperability is guaranteed by the IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN committee, the Wi-Fi Alliance, and the term Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity).

Market Drivers for 100-Gbps Ethernet

Data center/Internet media providers
Metro video/service providers
Enterprise LANs
Internet exchanges/ISP core routing

25/50 Gbps Ethernet

The 25 Gigabit Ethernet Consortium, including Google and Microsoft, aims to support an industry standard, interoperable Ethernet specification.
The consortium prescribes a single-lane 25-Gbps Ethernet and dual-lane 50 Gbps Ethernet link protocol.

400 Gbps Ethernet

IEEE 802.3 is exploring technology options for producing a 400-Gbps Ethernet standard.
No timetable is yet in place for the 400-Gbps Ethernet standard.

2.5/5 Gbps Ethernet (MGBASE-T)

These lower speeds are intended to support IEEE 802.11ac wireless traffic into a wired network.
The MGBASE-T Alliance is overseeing the development of these standards outside of IEEE.

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Description

This quiz covers the basics of Ethernet technology, its applications in data centers, and the use of high-speed Ethernet fiber links and switches to handle massive data volumes.