Ethernet Alliance, OIDA pursue single-lambda 100-GbE for data centers

The Ethernet Alliance announced that, in conjunction with the Optoelectronics Industry Development Association (OIDA), it will host a workshop on 100 Gigabit Ethernet (100GbE) per lambda interconnects targeting data center networks. The jointly presented 100GbE per Lambda for Data Center workshop will help to identify and explore the challenges and benefits of commercializing single-lambda 100GbE optical communications for data center applications.

“The industry's attention has been focused on refining and optimizing ‘4x25’ Ethernet – four lanes of 25GbE – for use as a bridge between 10GbE and 100GbE," explains John D’Ambrosia, chairman, Ethernet Alliance. "It’s a viable interim solution for meeting rapidly growing demand for greater access to higher-speed bandwidth; yet, there’s also a long-term disadvantage to this approach: its scalability beyond 100GbE is very limited.”

D’Ambrosia continues, “Single-lane solutions are typically the most cost-effective, therefore, the time is right to begin building consensus around efforts to move single-lambda 100GbE from concept to commercial reality, and with 400GbE’s standardization now beginning in IEEE 802.3, some are looking to a 4x100 gigabit per second (Gb/s) solution as a natural extension of what’s happening now with 40GbE. Through events like this workshop, we can begin developing those long-term tools that will carry us through the next phase of 100GbE’s evolution, and all the way up to terabit Ethernet.”

The collaborative two-day 100GbE per Lambda for Data Center workshop offers a robust schedule of panel discussions and breakout sessions led by a diverse array of industry thought leaders. Among the speakers are representatives from OIDA, and Ethernet Alliance member companies Broadcom Corporation; Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.; Cisco Systems, Inc.; Dell Inc.; Finisar Corporation; Inphi Corporation; and JDS Uniphase Corporation. Key industry analysts Jimmy Yu, Dell’Oro Group; Sergis Mushell, Gartner, Inc.; Natarajan ‘Subu’ Subrahmanyan, Juda Group; and Dale Murray, LightCounting LLC, will also offer additional insight.

100GbE per Lambda for Data Center workshop sessions will address topics such as the drivers behind the push for 100GbE single wavelength technologies; related technical challenges; the 100GbE per lambda physical layer; and how to spur needed industry investment in single-lambda technologies. A forward-looking event, the workshop is designed to help lay groundwork for future development, rather than conducting standard-specific work. Attendees will gain a better understanding of the opportunities, challenges, and benefits of single-lambda 100GbE through meaningful dialog and dynamic discussions.

“OIDA is very pleased to be joining the Ethernet Alliance in the pursuit of single-lambda 100GbE, and we are looking forward to an exciting, productive event,” cp,,emts Tom Hausken, senior industry advisor, OIDA, a division of The Optical Society (OSA).

The 100GbE per Lambda for Data Center workshop will be held June 12 – 13, 2014, co-located with CLEO: 2014, at the San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, Calif. For more information or to register, visit http://bit.ly/EA_OIDA-100GLambda.