Ethernet Network Domination

Venerable Ethernet provides the backbone of the internet. Ethernet has risen to complete dominance for local area networks over its forty years of existence. The first Ethernet experimentals versions started in 1972 (patented 1978). The commercialization of Ethernet started in 1980′s.

At first Ethernet technology remained primarily focused on connecting up systems within a single facility, rather than being called upon for the links between facilities, or the wider Internet. Ethernet at short distances has primarily used copper wiring. Fiber optic connections have also been available for the transmission of Ethernet over considerable distances for nearly two decades.

Today, Ethernet is everywhere. It’s evolved from a 2.93-Mb/s and then 10-Mb/s coax-based technology to one that offers multiple standards using unshielded twisted pair (UTP) and fiber-optic cable with speeds over 100 Gb/s. Ethernet, standardized by the IEEE as “802.3,” now dominates the networking world. And the quest for more variations continues onward.

Ethernet has always had the ability to communicate over reasonably large lengths of wiring, with even the very first prototype using 1km of copper cabling. Although Gigabit Ethernet over copper twisted pair cabling is only specified for 100m between links, fiber optic versions have allowed Ethernet to run over single connections up to 70km each.

Ethernet is on the Way to Total Networking Domination. Ethernet is all over the place. Most of us use it day by day. The first coax-primarily based Ethernet LAN conceived in 1973 by Bob Metcalfe and David Boggs. Since then Ethernet has grown to the stage of pretty much entire local area networking goes through it (even most WiFi hot spots are wired with Ethernet). It’s hard to overestimate the importance of Ethernet to networking over the past 25 years, during which we have seen seen Ethernet come to dominate the Networking industry. Ethernet’s future could be even more golden than its past.

Ethernet has pretty much covered office networking and backbones industrial networks. In industrial applications there applications where Ethernet is still coming. Ethernet is on the Way to Total Networking Domination article says that single-pair Ethernet makes possible cloud-to-sensor connections that enable full TCP/IP, and it’s revolutionizing factory automation. This technology will expand the use of Ethernet on the industrial applications. Several different single-pair Ethernet (SPE) standards seeks to wrap up full networking coverage by addressing the Internet of Things (IoT), and specifically the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0 application space.

Traditional copper Ethernet

Started with 50 ohms coax in 1973. In the 1990′s the twisted pair Ethernet with RJ-45 connectors and fiber became the dominant media choices. Modern Ethernet versions use a variety of cable types.

Twisted pair Ethernet mainstream use stared with CAT 5 cable that has been long time used for 100 Mbps or slower plans, while CAT 5a cables and newer are ideal for faster speeds. Both CAT5e and CAT6 can handle speeds of up to 1000 Mbps, or a Gigabit per second.

Today, the most common copper cables are Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6a. Now twisted pair the main media (CAT 6A, CAT7, CAT8 etc.) can handle speeds from 10M to 10G with mainstream devices, typically up to 100 meters. All those physical layers require a balanced twisted pair with an impedance of 100 Ω. Standard CAT cable has four wire pairs, and different Ethernet standards use two of them (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX) or all four pairs (1000BASE-T and faster).

Many different modes of operations (10BASE-T half-duplex, 10BASE-T full-duplex, 100BASE-TX half-duplex, etc.) exist for Ethernet over twisted pair, and most network adapters are capable of different modes of operation. Autonegotiation is required in order to make a working 1000BASE-T connection. Ethernet over twisted-pair standards up through Gigabit Ethernet define both full-duplex and half-duplex communication. However, half-duplex operation for gigabit speed is not supported by any existing hardware.

In the past, enterprise networks used 1000BASE-T Ethernet at the access layer for 1 Gb/s connectivity over typically Cat5e or Cat6 cables. But the advent of Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11ax) wireless access points has triggered a dire need for faster uplink rates between those access points and wiring closet switches preferably using existing Cat5e or Cat6 cables. As a result, the IEEE specified a new transceiver technology under the auspices of the 802.3bz standard, which addresses these needs. The industry adopted the nickname “mGig,” or multi-Gigabit, to designate those physical-layer (PHY) devices that conform to 802.3bz (capable of 2.5 Gb/s and 5 Gb/s) and 802.3an (10 Gb/s). mGig transceivers fill a growing requirement for higher-speed networking using incumbent unshielded twisted-pair copper cabling. The proliferation of mGig transceivers, which provide Ethernet connectivity with data rates beyond 1 Gb/s over unshielded copper wires, has brought with it a new danger: interference from radio-frequency emitters that can distort and degrade data-transmission fidelity.

10GBASE-T is the standard technology that enables 10 Gigabit Ethernet operations over balanced twisted-pair copper cabling system, including Category 6A unshielded and shielded cabling.

CAT8 can go even higher speeds up to 40G up to 30 meters. Category 8, or just Cat8, is the latest IEEE standard in copper Ethernet cable. Cat8 is the fastest Ethernet cable yet. Cat8 support of bandwidth up to 2 GHz (four times more than standard Cat6a bandwidth) and data transfer speed of up to 40 Gbps. Cat 8 cable is built using a shielded or shielded twisted pair (STP) construction where each of the wire pairs is separately shielded. Shielded foil twisted pair (S/FTP) construction includes shielding around each pair of wires within the cable to reduce near-end crosstalk (NEXT) and braiding around the group of pairs to minimize EMI/RFI line noise in crowded network installations. Cat 8 Ethernet cable is ideal for switch to switch communications in data centers and server rooms, where 25GBase‑T and 40GBase‑T networks are common. Its RJ45 ends will connect standard network equipment like switches and routers. Cat8 cable supports Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology. Cat8 is designed for a maximum range of 98 ft (30 m). If you want fater speeds and/or long distance there are various fiber interfaces.

Power over Ethernet

Power over Ethernet (PoE) offers convenience, flexibility, and enhanced management capabilities by enabling power to be delivered over the same CAT5 or higher capacity cabling as data. PoE technology is especially useful for powering IP telephones, wireless LAN access points, cameras with pan tilt and zoom (PTZ), remote Ethernet switches, embedded computers, thin clients and LCDs.

The original IEEE 802.3af-2003 PoE standard provides up to 15.4 W of DC power (minimum 44 V DC and 350 mA) supplied to each device. The IEEE standard for PoE requires Category 5 cable or higher (can operate with category 3 cable for low power levels). The updated IEEE 802.3at-2009 PoE standard also known as PoE+ or PoE plus, provides up to 25.5 W (30W) of power.

IEEE 802.3bt is the 100W Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard. IEEE 802.3bt calls for two power variants: Type 3 (60W) and Type 4 (100W). This means that you can now carry close to 100W of electricity over a single cable to power devices. IEEE 802.3bt takes advantage of all four pairs in a 4-pair cable, spreading current flow out among them. Power is transmitted along with data, and is compatible with data rates of up to 10GBASE-T.

Advocates of PoE expect PoE to become a global long term DC power cabling standard and replace a multiplicity of individual AC adapters, which cannot be easily centrally managed. Critics of this approach argue that PoE is inherently less efficient than AC power due to the lower voltage, and this is made worse by the thin conductors of Ethernet.

Cat5e cables usually run between 24 and 26 AWG, while Cat6, and Cat6A usually run between 22 and 26 AWG. When shopping for Cat5e, Cat6, or Cat6a network cables, you might notice an AWG description printed on the cable jacket such as: 28AWG, 26 AWG, or 24AWG. AWG stands for American wire gauge, a system for defining the diameter of the conductors of a wire which makes up a cable. The larger the wire gauge number, the thinner the wire and the smaller the diameter.

One of the newest types of Ethernet cables on the market, Slim Run Patch Cables, actually have a 28 AWG wire. This allows these patch cords to be at least 25% smaller in diameter, than standard Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6a Ethernet. Smaller cable diameter is beneficial for high-density networks and data centers.

The downside of 28 AWG cable is higher resistance and power loss in PoE applications. Before February 2019, the short answer to “Can 28 AWG patch cords be used in PoE applications?” was “no.” Today, however, the answer is “yes”! 28 AWG patch cords can now be used to support power delivery.

It has been approved that 28 AWG cables can support power delivery and higher PoE levels with enough airflow around the cable. According to TSB-184-A-1, an addendum to TSB-184-A: 28 AWG patch cabling can support today’s higher PoE levels, up to 60W.

To maintain recommendations for temperature rise, 28 AWG cables must be grouped into small bundles. By keeping 28 AWG PoE patch cords in bundles of 12 or less, the impacts of cable temperature rise are diminished thus allowing you to stay within the suggested maximum temperature rise of 15 degrees Celsius. Per TSB-184-A-1, an addendum to TSB-184-A: 28 AWG in bundles of up to 12 can be used for PoE applications up to 30W.In PoE applications using between 30W and 60W of power, spacing of 1.5 inches between bundles of 12 cables is recommended. Anything above 60W with 28 AWG cable requires authorization from the authority in USA.

There is no installation location or bundle size limitations for 28 AWG cord cables when power is not being distributed over the data network. The limitations only apply when PoE comes into play. Another thing you should bear in mind is that 28 AWG wires should never be used as horizontal, or “backbone” cabling as their maximum distance according to the standards is 10 meters.

Single pair Ethernet

Several different single-pair Ethernet (SPE) standards seeks to wrap up full networking coverage by addressing the Internet of Things (IoT), and specifically the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0 application space.

Single Pair Ethernet, or SPE, is the use of two copper wires that can transmit data at speeds of up to 1 Gb/s over short distances. In addition to data transfer, SPE has option to simultaneously delivering Power over Dataline (PoDl). This could be a major step forward in factory automation, building automation, the rise of smart cars, and railways. Single-pair Ethernet (SPE) allows legacy industrial networks to migrate to Ethernet network technology whilst delivering power and data to and from edge devices.

Traditional computer-oriented Ethernet comes normally in two and four-pair variants. Different variants of Ethernet are the most common industrial link protocols. Until now, they have required 4 or 8 wires, but the SPE link is allows using only two wire pairs. Using only two wire pairs can simplify the wiring and can allow reusing some old industrial wiring for Ethernet application. SPE offers additional benefits such as lighter and more flexible cables. Their space requirements and assembly costs are lower than with traditional Ethernet wiring. Those are the reasons why the technology is of interest to many.

The 10BASE-T1, 100BASE-T1 and 1000BASE-T1 single-pair Ethernet physical layers are intended for industrial and automotive applications or as optional data channels in other interconnect applications.
Automotive Ethernet, called 802.3bw or 100BASE-T1, that adapts Ethernet to the hostile automotive environment with a single pair.

Also 2.5 Gb/s, 5 Gb/s, and 10 Gb/s over a 15 m single pair is standardized in 802.3ch-2020. As of 2021, the P802.3cy Task Force is examining having 25, 50, 100 Gb/s speeds at lengths up to 11 m.

The single pair operates at full duplex and has a maximum reach of 15 m or 49 ft (100BASE-T1, 1000BASE-T1 link segment type A) or up to 40 m or 130 ft (1000BASE-T1 link segment type B) with up to four in-line connectors.

There is also a long distance 10BASE-T1L standard that can support distance up to one one kilometer at 10-Mb/s speed. In building automation, long reach is often needed for HVAC, fire safety, and equipment like elevators. The 10BASE-T1 standard has two parts. The main offering is 10BASE-T1L, or long reach to 1 km. The connection is point-to-point (p2p) with full-duplex capability. The other is 10BASE-T1S, or short-reach option that provides p2p half-duplex coverage to 25 meters and includes multidrop possibilities.

All those physical layers require a balanced twisted pair with an impedance of 100 Ω. The cable must be capable of transmitting 600 MHz for 1000BASE-T1 and 66 MHz for 100BASE-T1.

Single-pair Ethernet defines its own connectors:

  • IEC 63171-1 “LC”: This is a 2-pin connector with a similar locking tab to the modular connector, if thicker.
  • IEC 63171-6 “industrial”: This standard defines 5 2-pin connectors that differ in their locking mechanisms and one 4-pin connector with dedicated pins for power. The locking mechanisms range from a metal locking tab to M8 and M12 connectors with screw or push-pull locking. The 4-pin connector is only defined with M8 screw locking.

Fiber Ethernet

When most people think of an Ethernet cable, they probably imagine a copper cable, and that’s because they’ve been around the longest. A more modern take on the Ethernet cable is fiber optic. Instead of depending on electrical currents, fiber optic cables send signals using beams of light, which is much faster. In fact, fiber optic cables can support modern 10Gbps networks with ease. Fiber optic has been option on Ethernet for a long time. Ethernet has been using optical fiber for decades. The first standard was 10 Mbit/s FOIRL in 1987. The currently fastest PHYs run 400 Gbit/s. 800 Gbit/s and 1.6 Tbit/s started development in 2021.

The advantage most often cited for fiber optic cabling – and for very good reason – is bandwidth. Fiber optic Ethernets can easily handle the demands of today’s advanced 10 Gbps networks or 100Gbps, and have the capability of doing much more. Fiber optic cables can run without significant signal loss for distances, from kilometers up to tens of kilometers depending on the fiber type and equipment used.

The cost of fiber has come down drastically in recent years. Fiber optic cable is usually still a little more expensive than copper, but when you factor in everything else involved in installing a network the prices are roughly comparable.

Fiber optics is immune to the electrical interference problems because fiber optic cable doesn’t carry electricity, it carries light. Because fiber optic cables don’t depend on electricity, they’re less susceptible to interference from other devices.

Fiber optic cables are sometimes advertised to be more secure than copper cables because light signals are more difficult to hack. It is true that light signals are slightly more difficult to hack than copper cable signals, but actually they are nowadays well hackable with right tools.

Fiber has won the battle in the backbone networks on long connections, but there is still place for copper on shorter distances Nearly every computer and laptop sold today has a NIC card with a built-in port ready to accept a UTP copper cable, while a potentially expensive converter or fiber card is required to make a fiber optic cable connection.

Standard fiber-optic cables have a glass quartz core and cladding. Nowadays, there are two fiber optic cable types widely adopted in the field of data transfer—single mode fiber optic cable and multimode fiber optic cable.

A single-mode optical fiber is a fiber that has a small core, and only allows one mode of light to propagate at a time. So it is generally adapted to high speed, long-distance applications. The core size of single mode fiber has a core diameter between 8 and 10.5 micrometers with and a cladding diameter of 125 micrometers. OS1 and OS2 are standard single-mode optical fiber used with wavelengths 1310 nm and 1550 nm (size 9/125 µm) with a maximum attenuation of 1 dB/km (OS1) and 0.4 dB/km (OS2). SMF is used in long-haul applications with transmission distances of up to 100 km without need a repeater. Typical transmission distances are up 10-40 kilometers. Single mode capable hardware used to be very expensive years ago, but prices for then have came down quicly. Nowadays single mode is very commonly uses.

Multimode optical fiber is a type of optical fiber with a larger core diameter larger (65 or 50 micrometer core) designed to carry multiple light rays, or modes at the same time. It is mostly used for communication over short distances. Multimode Fiber (MMF) uses a core/cladding diameter of typically 50 micrometer/125 mictometer, providing less reach, up to approximately 2 km or less, due to increased dispersion as a result of the larger diameter core.

Image fromhttps://www.cables-solutions.com/whats-difference-fiber-optic-cable-twisted-pair-cable-coaxial-cable.html:

Fiber has become common in datacenters due to the frequency and reach limitations of twisted-pair copper – currently and probably permanently limited to 40 Gbit/s over only 30 m of category-8 twisted pair or just 10 Gbit/s over the full 100 m (of category 6A).

Fiber optic cables are commonly used for core network lines and connections that must span long distances, such as those used by Internet service providers.

Depending on your requirements, when going to use fiber, you’re probably first looking for one of these commonly used interfaces: 1000BASE-SX (1 Gbit/s over up to 550 m of OM2 multi-mode fiber), 1000BASE-LX (1 Gbit/s over up to 10 km of single-mode fiber), 10GBASE-SR (10 Gbit/s over up to 400 m of OM4 MMF), 10GBASE-LR (10 Gbit/s over up to 10 km of SMF).

There are many other PHY standards for various data rates and distances, also many common non-standards for even longer distance. The required optical transceivers are usually SFP (1G) or SFP+ modules (10G) plugged into your network hardware. Switches and network adapters with SFP modules allow you to create custom fiber optic high-speed Ethernet networks by plugging in suitable type SFP module. External media converters for devices without SFP slot are also available. A fiber media converter, also known as a fiber to Ethernet converter, allows you to convert typical copper Ethernet cable (e.g., Cat 6a) to fiber and back again.

100G (100 Gb/s) Ethernet has had a good run as the backbone technology behind the cloud, but the industry is moving on. There is expected to be exploding demand for bandwidth in the 5G/mmWave era that’s now upon us. Modern
400G and 800G test platforms validate the cloud’s Ethernet backbone, ensuring support for the massive capacity demands of today and tomorrow.
Many service providers and data centers, for various reasons, skipped over 400G Ethernet implementations and are looking toward 800G Ethernet for their next network transport overhaul. Adoption of 400G is still happening, but the growth of 800G will eclipse it before long.

In the future, the speeds of Ethernet networks will increase. Even after the 25, 40, 50 and 100 gigabit versions, more momentum is needed. For example, growing traffic in data centers would require 100G or even faster connections over long distances. Regardless of future speed needs, 200G or 400G speeds are best suited for short-term needs. The large cloud data centers on the Internet have moved to 100GbE, 200GbE and 400G solutions for trunk connections. They also require strong encryption and, in addition, accurate time synchronization of the backbone networks of 5G networks. Media Access Control security (MACsec) provides point-to-point security on Ethernet links. MACsec is defined by IEEE standard 802.1AE. IEEE 802.1X is an IEEE Standard for port-based Network Access Control (PNAC).

High-speed terabit rates do not yet make sense to implement now. The standardization organization OIF (Optical Interworking Forum) has worked up to 800 gigabit connection speeds. The Ethernet Technology Consortium proposed an 800 Gbit/s Ethernet PCS variant based on tightly bundled 400GBASE-R in April 2020. In December 2021, IEEE started the P802.3df Task Force to define variants for 800 and 1600 Gbit/s over twinaxial copper, electrical backplanes, single-mode and multi-mode optical fiber along with new 200 and 400 Gbit/s variants using 100 and 200 Gbit/s lanes. Lightwave magazine expects that 800G Ethernet transceivers become most popular module in mega data centers by 2025. There are already test instruments designed to validate 1.6T designs.

There is also one fiber tpye I have not mentioned yet. Plastic optical fiber (POF) has emerged as a low cost alternative to twisted pair copper cabling and coaxial cables in office, home and automotive networks. POF technology offers an attractive alternative to traditional glass optical fiber as well as copper for industrial, office, home and automotive networks. POF typically utilizes a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) core and a fluoropolymer cladding. Glass fiber-optic cable offers lower attenuation than its plastic counterpart, but POF provides a more rugged cable, capable of withstanding a tighter bend radius.

POF has generally been utilized in more niche applications where its advantages outweigh the need for high bandwidth and relatively short maximum distance (only tens of meters). Currently in the market, several manufacturers have developed fiber optic transceivers for 100Mbps Ethernet over plastic optical fiber and there exist also 1Gbit/s versions. Advances in LED technology and Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) technology are enabling POF to support data rates of 3Gbps and above

POF offers many benefits to the user: it is lightweight, robust, cheap and easy to install; the use of 650nm red LED light makes it completely safe and easier to diagnose as red light can be seen by the human eye. There are several different connectors used for PoF. There is also connector-less option called Optolock, where you can simply slice the plastic fiber with a knife, separate the fibers, insert the fiber into the housing and then lock it in place.

Industrial networks special demands for Ethernet

Industrial networks need to be durable. Industrial applications on the field needs often more durable connectors than the traditional RJ-45 connector of office networks.

Here is a list of some commonly used industrial Ethernet connector types:

  • 8P8C modular connector: For stationary uses in controlled environments, from homes to datacenters, this is the dominant connector. Its fragile locking tab otherwise limits its suitability and durability. Bandwidths supporting up to Cat 8 cabling are defined for this connector format.
  • M12X: This is the M12 connector designated for Ethernet, standardized as IEC 61076-2-109. It is a 12mm metal screw that houses 4 shielded pairs of pins. Nominal bandwidth is 500MHz (Cat 6A). The connector family is used in chemically and mechanically harsh environments such as factory automation and transportation. Its size is similar to the modular connector.
  • ix Industrial: This connector is designed to be small yet strong. It has 10 pins and a different locking mechanism than the modular connector. Standardized as IEC 61076-3-124, its nominal bandwidth is 500MHz (Cat 6A).

In addition to those there are applications that use other versions of M12 and smaller M8 connectors.

Current industrial trends like Industrie 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things lead to an increase in network traffic in ever-growing converged networks. Many industrial applications need reliable and low latency communications. Many industries require deterministic Ethernet, and Industrial Automation is one of them. The automation industry has continuously sought solutions to achieve fast, deterministic, and robust communication. Currently, several specialized solutions are available for this purpose, such as PROFINET IRT, Sercos III, and Varan. TSN can help standardize real-time Ethernet across the industry.

TSN refers to a set of IEEE 802 standards that make Ethernet deterministic by default. TSN is an upcoming new technology that sits on Layer 2 of the ISO/OSI Model. It adds definitions to guarantee determinism and throughput in Ethernet networks. It will provide standardized mechanisms for the concurrent use of deterministic and non-deterministic communication. AVB/TSN can handle rate-constrained traffic, where each stream has a bandwidth limit defined by minimum inter-frame intervals and maximal frame size, and time-trigger traffic with an exact accurate time to be sent. Low-priority traffic is passed on best-effort base, with no timing and delivery guarantees. Time-sensitive traffic has several priority classes.


Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) is a set of standards under development by the Time-Sensitive Networking task group of the IEEE 802.1 working group
. The majority of projects define extensions to the IEEE 802.1Q – Bridges and Bridged Networks, which describes Virtual LANs and network switches. These extensions in particular address the transmission of very low transmission latency and high availability. Applications include converged networks with real-time Audio/Video Streaming and real-time control streams which are used in automotive or industrial control facilities.

In contrast to standard Ethernet according to IEEE 802.3 and Ethernet bridging according to IEEE 802.1Q, time is very important in TSN networks. For real-time communication with hard, non-negotiable time boundaries for end-to-end transmission latencies, all devices in this network need to have a common time reference and therefore, need to synchronize their clocks among each other. This is not only true for the end devices of a communication stream, such as an industrial controller and a manufacturing robot, but also true for network components, such as Ethernet switches. Only through synchronized clocks, it is possible for all network devices to operate in unison and execute the required operation at exactly the required point in time. Scheduling and traffic shaping allows for the coexistence of different traffic classes with different priorities on the same network.

The following are some of the IEEE standards that make up TSN:

Enhanced synchronization behavior (IEEE 802.1AS)
Suspending (preemption) of long frames (IEEE 802.1-2018)
Enhancements for scheduled traffic (IEEE 802.1Q-2018)
Path control and bandwidth reservation (IEEE 802.1Q-2018)
Seamless redundancy (IEEE 802.1CB)
Stream reservation (IEEE 802.1Q-2018)

Synchronization of clocks across the network is standardized in Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN). Time in TSN networks is usually distributed from one central time source directly through the network itself using the IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol, which utilizes Ethernet frames to distribute time synchronization information.

254 Comments

  1. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Control Unit Uses TSN to Take Vehicle Networking to Next Level

    As automakers take the next steps toward the software-defined vehicle, which can be upgraded with new services and features remotely over time, they require high-speed in-vehicle networks to match.

    TTTech launched a high-end electronic control unit (ECU) with time-sensitive networking (TSN) and other advanced networking features that acts as a secure central gateway to wire together different domains in the car and relay data from around the car to the cloud. In the future, it can also act as a central computer in a hybrid or zonal architecture.

    Based on NXP’s high-end S32G network processor, the N4 Network Controller supports a wide range of Ethernet, CAN-FD, CAN, and LIN bus interfaces. It adds several gigabytes of flash memory, enabling over-the-air software updates over time. TTTech said the unit comes with everything to keep the vehicle secure from hackers according to ISO 21434, while also allowing for functional-safety features up to the ASIL B rating under the ISO 26262 standard.

    The combination of the dual Arm Cortex-A53 and the Cortex-M7 CPU clusters supports both high-performance and functional safety in a single ECU. At the same time, different operating systems, such as AUTOSAR Classic and Linux, can run in parallel.

    https://www.electronicdesign.com/resources/products-of-the-week/media-gallery/21265339/electronic-design-products-of-the-week-sicbased-power-supply-io-link-analog-converters?utm_source=EG+ED+Analog+%26+Power+Source&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS230504032&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.identpull=omeda|7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R&id=21265339&slide=2

    Reply
  2. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Stacking 10G Ethernet
    May 9, 2023
    VersaLogic’s dual-port 10G Ethernet adapter tops off a PCIe/104 stack.
    https://www.mwrf.com/technologies/embedded/systems/article/21265578/electronic-design-stacking-10g-ethernet

    What you’ll learn:

    What is a PCIe/104 stack-down?
    Why 10G Ethernet is important in embedded systems.

    PCIe/104 is a compact, stackable architecture designed to handle high-speed, high-performance single-board computers (SBCs) and peripherals. The boards utilize one to three banks of sockets to connect one board to another in the stack. The interface incorporates PCI Express (PCIe), which is a point-to-point, high-speed serial interface; the three-bank version supports a x16 PCIe interface. The peripheral stacks can be built up or down from the host.

    VersaLogic’s EPM-E9 10G Ethernet expansion module is a PCIe/104 Type 1 board that provides a pair of 10G interfaces (see figure). It’s a stack-down adapter that’s designed to go under the SBC. A typical configuration from VersaLogic places the EPM-E9 under the six-core, Xeon-E-based EPMe-51 Sabertooth SBC.

    Reply
  3. Tomi Engdahl says:

    10BASE-T1L-MC: 10BASE-T1L to 10BASE-T Media Converter Platform
    https://github.com/ArrowElectronics/10BASE-T1L-MC

    This repository is dedicated to the 10BASE-T1L Media Converter including the source code, HW package files for Development, User Guides.

    The media converter (“10BASE-T1L-MC”) is a plug and play solution which enables seamlessly interfacing from single twisted pair (SPE) long reach Industrial Ethernet (“10BASET1L”) to standard Ethernet (“10BASE-T”).

    The 10BASE-T1L-MC is built using the industry leading PHY technology from Analog Devices ADI Chronous Family, namely the ADIN1100, 10BASE-T1L PHY and the ADIN1200, 10BASE-T PHY.

    10BASE-T1L Software Package

    The software package includes the configuration of both the PHY ADIN1100 and ADIN1200 with the MAX32660 MCU.

    Both the PHYs are configured with MCU over MDIO Interface GPIO Bit Banging.
    The PHYs has been programmmed to configure it in auto-negotiation, full-duplex mode, and speed at 10 Mbps.
    The Device is programmmed with LED indication in case of various events like Power LED of MCU, Link Status LED and Activity Status LED for ADIN1100 and ADIN1200.
    Debug UART hase been programmmed to show logs for Board Info and PHYs configuration status.

    Reply
  4. Tomi Engdahl says:

    SPEBlox-Long (10BASE-T1L) – 10Mbps, 1km range, single pair
    https://botblox.io/products/speblox-long

    Reply
  5. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Single-pair Ethernet, the future of
    industrial communications
    10BASE-T1L IEEE 802.3cg single-pair Ethernet PHY
    https://www.ti.com/lit/ml/slyp699/slyp699.pdf?ts=1684322848232&ref_url=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.google.com%252F

    Reply
  6. Tomi Engdahl says:

    FC621 USB 10BASE-T1L Stick for Industrial Single Pair Ethernet (SPE)
    https://www.fibrecode.com/fc621-usb-10base-t1l-stick.html

    The FC621 USB 10BASE-T1L Stick represents a compact hardware interface connecting MS-Windows and Linux based PCs with 10BASE-T1L industrial Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) network devices and switches.

    The FC621 USB 10BASE-T1L Stick functions as seamless media converter between a standard USB 2.0 interface and a 10BASE-T1L industrial Single Pair Ethernet network. On Windows and Linux host PCs the FC621 USB 10BASE-T1L Stick is detected as standard Ethernet device.

    Flexible software APIs feature full access to Analog Devices ADIN1100 PHY internal registers. This enables cable testing and network diagnosis.

    Reply
  7. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Pace1KL
    Long Range Single Pair Media Adapter, 1000m SPE over twisted pair (UTP), IEEE802.3cg, 10Base-T1L
    https://www.altronix.com/products/Pace1KL

    Pace1KL is a SPE (Single Pair Ethernet) Ethernet media adaptor that enables connecting 10Base-T1L, IEEE 802.3cg compliant devices such as temperature sensors, industrial controllers, etc. to the network in an industrial enviornment at longer distances.

    Reply
  8. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Yay! His story, like the story of Ethernet and the early Internet, is colorful, technical, and fascinating! Ethernet was inspired by ALOHAnet from the University of Hawai’i – so it was made by surfers so that you could surf the Internet, or something.

    Ethernet at 50: Bob Metcalfe pulls down the Turing Award
    https://www.networkworld.com/article/3691019/ethernet-at-50-bob-metcalfe-pulls-down-the-turing-award.html

    The co-creator of Ethernet reflects on its growth and weighs the impact of technologies from AI to geothermal power.

    Reply
  9. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Hauska appnote Wurthiltä Ethernetkaapelin vaipan maadoituksien vaikutuksista säteiltyihin pörinöihin. https://www.we-online.com/components/media/o721297v410%20ANP116b%20EN.pdf

    Reply
  10. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Building Networks: When to run Fiber, Cat 6 or 6A, DAC Cables, and Cat 8
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63iBbPS8Bt4

    Reply
  11. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Learn Network Cable Management for Home Racks
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OUk7glTIUA

    In this video I build a network rack from scratch, explaining along the way the each step and the reason I am doing it the way that I am. This is intended for a home network, not a commercial space, so I have simplified some of the steps. I made this video for first time builders, so I try not to assume that you have built a lot of these and that you are looking for some general guidance. The primary lesson you’ll want to take away here is to carefully arrange your main bundle prior to getting under way – if you start out haphazardly, you’ll have a harder and harder time keeping the rack under control as you go along.

    Reply
  12. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Install Cat6/Ethernet Better and Faster – 6 Things You Can Use Right Now
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz6DaiFc-KQ

    Reply
  13. Tomi Engdahl says:

    ETNdigi: Ethernet tulee teollisuusverkon reunalle
    https://etn.fi/index.php/tekniset-artikkelit/15096-etndigi-ethernet-tulee-teollisuusverkon-reunalle

    Microchip on tuonut markkinoille uusia teollisuustason yhden parikaapelin Ethernet -laitteita, jotka toteuttavat 10BASE-T1S- ja 100BASE-T1-yhteyksien fyysisen kerroksen. Nämä tuotteet tuovat Ethernetin teollisuuden verkkojen reunalle asti.

    Single Pair Ethernet eli SPE määrittelee Ethernet-järjestelmän lähetin-vastaanotinosan. Kaikki korkeammat ohjelmistokerrokset pysyvät ennallaan nopeusluokista riippumatta. SPE:tä kutsutaan myös nimellä T1, mikä tarkoittaa yhtä balansoitua johtoparia. Jotkut sovellukset käyttävät kierrettyä johtoparia, mutta toiset käyttävät vain kahta johtoa, jotka kulkevat rinnakkain. IEEE-standardi määrittelee kanavan sen sähköisten ominaisuuksien perusteella, ei tiettyjen fyysisten johtojen perusteella.

    SPE:lle on määritetty useita kaistanleveyksiä. Nimen ensimmäinen osa määrittelee megabitit sekunnissa, joten 10BASE tarkoittaa 10 Mbit/s. On olemassa standardeja 10BASE-T1S:lle (S lyhyelle etäisyydelle), 10BASE-T1L:lle (L pitkälle etäisyydelle), 100BASE-T1:lle, 1000BASE-T1:lle ja vielä korkeammat tiedonsiirtonopeudet on määritelty 2,5, 5 ja 10 gigabitille sekunnissa. SPE vähentää järjestelmän kustannuksia vähentämällä painoa ja johdotuksen monimutkaisuutta.

    Reply
  14. Tomi Engdahl says:

    How To: Calculating Ethernet Channel Length
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQqjsGY44fo

    In this week’s video our Technical Manager, Don Schultz, shows you how to properly calculate your Ethernet channel length! For more information on temperature’s effect on Ethernet cable, check out our blog here: https://www.truecable.com/blogs/cable

    If you find this video helpful let us know in the comments and subscribe for more!

    Video Time Codes:
    [0:00-0:20] – Intro & Overview
    [0:21-1:34] – Construction of an Overall Ethernet Channel
    [1:35-2:53] – Ambient Temperature
    [2:54-4:51] – Patch Cords
    [4:52-5:16] – Outro

    Reply
  15. Tomi Engdahl says:

    The year is 1983 and I’m about to vampire tap my thick Ethernet
    By Jacob Ridley published 5 days ago
    Yes, it’s a real thing, and it’s completely normal (for the ’80s).
    https://www.pcgamer.com/the-year-is-1983-and-im-about-to-vampire-tap-my-thick-ethernet/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialflow&fbclid=IwAR3opkck7AsJhP2kDMB8AT9OW9o44a1ZaVqycLIddTXQWOEF3bk-BguPWm4

    Thick Ethernet is not what I expected the progenitor of modern-day networking to be named, but alas, it is. This form of Ethernet, 10BASE5, also called thicknet, and IEEE 802.3 standard if you’re boring, was the first commercially available standardised implementation back in 1983, and got its name for its uses of “thick and stiff” coaxial cable.

    Better yet, this thicknet used an immensely satisfying method of attaching devices to a network. Rather than plumb in your average RJ45 connector, with thicknet the easiest way to connect a new device to a network was by puncturing the outer cable shielding and probing into the electrically conductive cabling within. This was known as a vampire tap.

    Vampire taps actually were created to save a lot of hassle with cutting a cable on both ends and wiring new connectors every time a new device was added.

    Reply
  16. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Uusi standardi tuo 50 gigabitin optiset verkot autoihin
    https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/15125-uusi-standardi-tuo-50-gigabitin-optiset-verkot-autoihin

    IEEE on saanut valmiiksi Ethernet-standardin, joka tuo jopa 50 gigabitin optiset yhteydet ajoneuvoihin. Standardi on nimeltään IEEE 802.3cz-2023 ja sen fyysinen osa tukee nopeuksia 2,5 Gb/s, 5 Gb/s, 10 Gb/s, 25 Gb/s ja enimmillään 50 gigabitin sekunnissa.

    IEEE 802.3cz-2023 (nGBASE-AU) -standardi on suunniteltu alusta alkaen siten, jotta se täyttää tiukat autoteollisuuden vaatimukset. Optisen kuidun käyttö pienentää merkittävästi virrankulutusta. Lisäksi se pitää pintansa pitkälle tulevaisuuteen, koska autojen ECU-yksiköt voidaan päivittää suuremmille nopeuksille säilyttäen samat johtoasemat.

    Jatkossa autoon saadaan 25 tai jopa 50 gigabitin optinen verkko yhdellä OM3-multimedia-kuitukaapelilla ja 4 liittimelllä. Yhteys yltää 40 metrin päähän, mikä riittää auton tarpeisiin monin verroin.

    Standardi täyttää autojen lämpötilavaatimukset (-40 °C … +105 °C) ja luotettavuusvaatimukset vähintään 15 vuoden käytölle.

    Uuteen standardin perustuvat liitäntäratkaisut ovat edullisia, koska korkeampi optinen tehobudjetti mahdollistaa pienemmän toleranssin liittimet. Lisäksi OM3-kuitua käytetään laajasti, mikä varmistaa suuren volyymin tuotannon. Fyysinen kerros on yksinkertaisempi, joten siinä tarvitaan vähemmän DSP-virheenkorjausta, eikä erilliselle kaiunpoistolle ole tarvetta.

    Suurempia nopeuksia varten autoteollisuuden vaatimukset edellyttävät tätä siirtymistä kuparista optiseen fyysiseen tiedonsiirtoon. Optinen Ethernet-yhteys ratkaisee täydellisesti ajoneuvojen haasteet ja sähköiset häiriöt lyömättömän sähkömagneettisen yhteensopivuuden, luotettavuuden ja alhaisten kustannusten ansiosta.

    Reply
  17. Tomi Engdahl says:

    How 10BASE-T1S Can Drive Wider Adoption of Automotive Ethernet
    July 5, 2023
    The 10BASE-T1S standard for automotive Ethernet allows manufacturers to implement Ethernet-to-the-edge connectivity and optimize wireless connections to cloud services. However, suppliers must overcome hurdles before adopting it.
    https://www.electronicdesign.com/markets/automotive/article/21268945/mouser-electronics-how-10baset1s-can-drive-wider-adoption-of-automotive-ethernet

    What you’ll learn:

    What is 10BASE-T1S and how does it work?
    How 10BASE-T1S can benefit automotive systems and increase scalability in the industry.
    The challenges that still need to be addressed before 10BASE-T1S is implemented across the entire automotive spectrum.

    When CAN Can’t

    As mentioned earlier, CAN tops out at 1 Mb/s, and the faster variant CAN-FD maxes out at 8 Mb/s. The limits are a serious impediment to a number of automotive capabilities that are already standard features as well as other proposed options. Data from cameras, radar, and LiDAR used in current collision-avoidance systems and other ADAS features demand far more bandwidth than is available through the CAN bus. For example, the data stream from a single LiDAR sensor can be upwards of 70 Mb/s.

    The automotive industry needed a replacement for the aging CAN protocol and decided to adopt Ethernet to handle in-vehicle communication. Ethernet is widely used in data centers, manufacturing, home networks, and more to transfer large data throughput.

    However, the auto industry uses another form known as automotive Ethernet (AE). Vehicles employ the AE protocol as it adds a physical layer for specific use cases, and the cost of the cables is reduced by using PHY transceivers that stand up to challenging road conditions. It provides a higher baud rate over traditional Ethernet and allows for the reuse of IP technologies from other industries.

    AE supports data transfer at roughly a gigabit per second. Subsequent versions include IEEE 802.3cg, which specifies up to 10 Mb/s on a single pair, and 802.3ch, which specifies 2.5, 5, and 10 Gb/s, also on a single pair. AE ordinarily specifies the use of twisted-pair cables to reduce weight and costs, but fiber optics are typically more resistant to noise and more conducive to signal integrity.

    That being said, automotive Ethernet isn’t without its challenges, as the demands for higher bandwidth increase as technology and applications evolve.

    Several of those key challenges include maintaining multi-gigabit transmission of data within the vehicle in the near term while aiming for much higher throughput in the long term. Trying to maintain electromagnetic compatibility and reliability with increasingly noisy environments is another concern, along with maintaining low weights and costs associated with wire harnesses to support a data center on wheels.

    Enter 10BASE-T1S

    New IEEE automotive Ethernet standards are starting to emerge to address those challenges. One of the latest is 10BASE-T1S, which is designed to support new architecture rollouts.

    10BASE-T1S, which is specified in the IEEE 802.3cg standard, defines a physical layer and data link layer for MAC addresses within Ethernet networks. The physical layer provides connections to nodes or devices such as routers, switches, and hubs.

    Broken down, the “10” represents the maximum transmission speed (10 Mb/s), “BASE” refers to baseband signaling, and “T1” denotes single twisted-pair cabling. The specification is designed to provide a multi-drop transmission medium that can handle at least eight transceiver nodes or devices at distances of 25 meters or more. The “S” means a short length or short reach.

    With 10BASE-T1S, standard Ethernet communication no longer needs gateways to connect incompatible communication or embedded systems. It also increases scalability, as several nodes can operate on the same bus line without sacrificing data throughput.

    One of the unique aspects of the standard is a physical-layer collision-avoidance ability, which prevents data traffic from jamming or overwhelming nodes.

    Each node in the network is assigned an opportunity to transmit. However, if that node has no data to transmit, it hands over priority to the next node, ensuring maximum utilization of speeds and throughput.

    It’s also possible to provide power over the 10BASE-T1S network (known as PoDL/Power over Data Lines) as it’s an ac-coupled system, which reduces the amount of cable needed for vehicle networks. It also shrinks connector sizes and increases reliability to the system.

    10BASE-T1S Will Drive AE into the Future

    The 10BASE-T1S standard will allow automotive Ethernet to expand and evolve along with embedded electronics. This, in turn, will enable vehicle E/E systems to evolve as well with new feature sets, such as multi-drop physical layers, low latencies, and efficient bandwidth utilization.

    Automotive suppliers have already started producing 10BASE-T1S components, and new system designs are underway to implement those new devices, as the necessary tools are already available.

    10BASE-T1S also allows manufacturers to implement Ethernet-to-the-edge connectivity. One of the key connections in some modern vehicles includes telematics control units (TCUs), an embedded system that handles wireless connectivity to cloud services for any number of applications. The standard optimizes that connectivity; thus, connected nodes can send and receive data in the cloud for everything from tracking to firmware updates.

    That said, hurdles must be overcome before the 10BASE-T1S standard is implemented across the entire automotive spectrum, including the notion that the standard will add cost and complexity when designing embedded systems and devices.

    Reply
  18. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Ethernet at 50: Exploring Its Past, Present, and Future
    June 27, 2023
    Ethernet celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. This article covers the rich history of Ethernet and what lies ahead with this ubiquitous technology.
    https://www.electronicdesign.com/technologies/industrial/article/21268538/ethernet-alliance-ethernet-at-50-exploring-its-past-present-and-future?utm_source=EG+ED+Connected+Solutions&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CPS230629059&o_eid=7211D2691390C9R&rdx.identpull=omeda|7211D2691390C9R&oly_enc_id=7211D2691390C9R

    What you’ll learn:

    A look at Ethernet through the years.
    The importance of interoperability as Ethernet technology continues to evolve.

    Ethernet is the backbone of our connected world and 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of this pervasive technology. The efficiency and resiliency of Ethernet makes it applicable to a broad set of applications, increasing the importance of interoperability.

    One overarching tenet of the Ethernet Alliance’s mission is the proliferation of interoperability for the wide range of devices, interconnect solutions, and data rates within the Ethernet ecosystem. The basic network components haven’t really changed; with each advancement of speed, we’re still testing switches, systems, and network interface cards (NICs) connected with cables and optical modules.

    However—and under the covers, so to speak—there’s been an explosion of applications centered on, and anchored by, Ethernet’s communications frameworks.

    Reply
  19. Tomi Engdahl says:

    What is a Media Converter and How to Use It? | Expert Guide
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBKYYYWDLmA

    What are the different specifications, features, and capabilities between SFP transceivers and QSFP transceivers? Find out in this video!

    Reply
  20. Tomi Engdahl says:

    SFP vs. QSFP Transceivers: What is the Difference?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gTSgqadXvQ

    What are the different specifications, features, and capabilities between SFP transceivers and QSFP transceivers? Find out in this video!

    Reply
  21. Tomi Engdahl says:

    400G Fiber Optics: Everything You Need to Know!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WtiyXhibVI

    Reply
  22. Tomi Engdahl says:

    DAC vs. AOC: Network Cabling Comparison
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOM0ZPS5SyM

    Direct attach cables (DACs) and active optical cables (AOCs) are common network cabling options for switches and racks in the fiber optic industry. But what are the differences between them and which network cabling should you get for your network? Find out in this video.

    Reply
  23. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Must Have Network Cabling Tools
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S2Pdmcv2kI

    Top 5 Tools for a Structured Cabling Technician
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxXTh6apseE

    Reply
  24. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Sponsored byM12 Connector Coding for Automation and Industry 4.0 Compliance | 1
    M12 CONNECTOR CODING FOR
    AUTOMATION AND INDUSTRY
    4.0 COMPLIANCE
    https://www.altechcorp.com/RFY/Altech-Sensor-Cables-ShortForm_WP.pdf

    Connectors are critical in the ongoing operation of any kind of electronic or electrical apparatus. They are
    found on every application imaginable and used to interconnect every type of sensor, control, and factory
    management system out there. Overall, the M12 family of circular connectors have an important place in
    this market

    D-coded connectors
    Used as network cables for Ethernet and ProfiNet protocols—which includes industrial protocols like Ethernet/IP
    and EtherCat), D-coded connectors are able to transfer real time data up to 100 Mb. They typically have three to
    five pins.
    • X-coded connectors
    These connectors are growing in popularity because of their ability to transfer large amounts of data at high speeds
    through an Ethernet connection. X-coded connectors transfer up to 10 Gb of data and are ideal for high-speed
    data transfer in industrial applications. While other connectors typically vary in how many pins they have, X-coded
    connectors will always have eight pins. These connectors are often used in vision and industrial robotic applications
    where precise data transfer is a must

    Reply
  25. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Ethernetistä kehitetään uusi ultraversio datakeskuksiin
    https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/07/almalinux-says-red-hat-source-changes-wont-kill-its-rhel-compatible-distro/?utm_source=facebook&utm_brand=ars&utm_medium=social&utm_social-type=owned&fbclid=IwAR3VCCv8i-Cik3iRnYQvJukz-YPT8p_Y3aAA1Zq8XOqc88p7f05TRA8DmAo

    Ethernet on pikku hiljaa noussut koneiden välisten liitäntöjen de facto -standardiksi, mutta tulevaisuuden tarpeita ajatellen sitä halutaan entisestään parantaa. Tämän takia Linux Foundationin johdolla on perustettu uusi konsortio, joka kehittää ”ultraethernetiä” erityisesti datakeskusten teholaskennan tarpeisiin.

    Kyse on Ultra Ethernet Consortiumista. Tarkoituksena on kehittää kokonainen Ethernet-pohjainen protokollapino tekoäly- ja HPC-laskennan (High-Performance Computing) tarpeisiin. Nämä työkuormat kehittyvät nopeasti ja vaativat luokkansa parasta toimivuutta, suorituskykyä ja yhteentoimivuutta, konsortio perustelee.

    Ultra Ethernet Consortiumin perustavat yritykset, joilla on pitkä historia ja kokemus korkean suorituskyvyn ratkaisuista. Jokainen jäsen edistää merkittävästi laajempaa korkean suorituskyvyn ekosysteemiä. Perustajajäseniin kuuluvat AMD, Arista, Broadcom, Cisco, Eviden (Atos-liiketoiminta), HPE, Intel, Meta ja Microsoft, joilla on kollektiivisesti vuosikymmeniä kokemusta verkko-, tekoäly-, pilvi- ja korkean suorituskyvyn laskennasta.

    Konsortion ensisijaisena tavoitteena on määritellä ja kehittää uusi siirtokerroksen UET-protokolla.

    Ultra Ethernet Consortium pyrkii jalostamaan Ethernetiä parantaen ja muuttamalla vain niitä bittejä ja paloja, jotka ovat tarpeen tavoitteidensa saavuttamiseksi. Konsortio pyrkii alussa parantamaan Ethernet-teknologian ohjelmistoja ja fyysisiä kerroksia, mutta muuttamatta sen perusrakennetta. Tämä takaa eri polven laitteiden yhteentoimivuuden.

    The New Era Needs a New Network
    https://ultraethernet.org/

    As performant as a supercomputing interconnect

    As ubiquitous and cost-effective as Ethernet

    As scalable as a cloud data center

    Reply
  26. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Nokia kiihdytti ensimmäisenä tutkimusverkon 800 gigabittiin
    https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/15202-nokia-kiihdytti-ensimmaeisenae-tutkimusverkon-800-gigabittiin

    Nokia, Nomios Group ja GÉANT ilmoittivat tänään, että GÉANTin tutkimus- ja koulutusverkoissa otetaan käyttöön Nokian IP/MPLS-ratkaisu. Nokian laitteilla GÉANT tulee olemaan ensimmäinen tutkimusverkko maailmassa, joka ottaa käyttöön 800 gigabitin Ethernet-reitityksen.

    Tämä kolminkertaistaa kapasiteetin tutkimusverkon 50 000 kilometrin matkalla. GÉANT yhdistää 40 kansallista tutkimus- ja koulutusverkkoa 40 Euroopan maassa. Verkkoa käyttää 50 miljoonaa käyttäjää ja laitosta yli 100 uuteen tutkimusverkkoon kaikkialla maailmassa. Tehokas IP-runkoverkko muodostaa perustan maailmanlaajuiselle tutkijoiden yhteenliittymälle, joka keskittyy tutkimukseen eri tieteenaloilla, kuten korkean energian fysiikassa, biolääketieteessä, radioastronomiassa ja ilmastoon vaikuttavissa sääolosuhteissa.

    Reply
  27. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Category 6A
    The cabling of choice for new installations
    February 2021
    https://www.commscope.com/globalassets/digizuite/2164-category-6a-the-cabling-of-choice-for-new-installations-wp-112053-en.pdf?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=socialmedia&utm_campaign=blogging&r=1

    The first Category 6A systems were introduced in 2004 as cabling designed for 10GBASE-T
    applications, and Category 6A has become the smart technical choice for any new installation
    supporting power over Ethernet (PoE) or data rates at 1 Gbps or above.
    While PoE and 2.5G/5GBASE-T technologies will work on Category 5e and Category 6 cabling, their performance may
    be subject to “use cases” driven by the arrangement of cable bundles and the density of applications deployed. Cabling
    is one of the longest-lived assets in a network, and, while initial deployments of multigigabit technologies may be able
    to take advantage of installed cabling plants, anyone planning for the long term with a new deployment should consider
    Category 6A cabling to grow into the future without limiting application performance.
    This white paper explores the history and likely future of data communications and power over Ethernet technologies to
    explain: (1) what makes Category 6A fundamentally different from Categories 5e and 6, and (2) why it matters today.
    When considering these factors together, Category 6A is the clear choice for any new installation, serving applications
    that are emerging today and are expected to become prevalent over the next five years

    Reply
  28. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Network evolution 1985-2030
    https://interactive.commscope.com/network-evolution/p/1

    Deciding how to move forward begins by knowing where you’ve been. Data centers have covered a lot of ground over the past 40 years. But that’s nothing compared to the changes that are coming. So, strap in, scroll down and enjoy the ride.

    Reply
  29. Tomi Engdahl says:

    The migration to 400G/800G: Part I
    https://www.commscope.com/insights/the-enterprise-source/migration-to-400g800g-the-fact-file-part-1/

    Planning to meet future data center challenges starts today. The Ethernet roadmap explained.

    Across data centers the ground is shifting—again.

    Just because you’re running at 40G or even 100G today, don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. If the history of data center evolution has taught us anything, it’s that the rate of change—whether it’s bandwidth, fiber density or lane speeds—accelerates exponentially. The transition to 400G is closer than you think. Not sure? Add up the number of 10G (or faster) ports you’re currently supporting and imagine they progress to 100G, you’ll realize that the need for 400G (and beyond) isn’t that far away.

    Then there are the connector options for allocating the additional bandwidth from the octal modules to the port level. Connectors include traditional parallel eight-, 12-, 16- and 24-fiber multi-push on (MPO) connectors, as well as newer duplex LC, SN, MDC and CS connectors.

    The migration to 400G/800G: Part II
    https://www.commscope.com/insights/the-enterprise-source/migration-to-400g800g-the-fact-file-part-2/

    But Part I tells only half the story. While the development of 400G optical modules and connectors is well underway, data center managers typically are struggling to define an infrastructure cabling strategy that makes sense, both operationally and financially. They can’t afford to get it wrong. The physical layer—cabling and connectivity—is the glue holding together everything in the network. Once a structured cabling infrastructure is installed, replacing it can be risky and expensive. Getting it right depends, in large part, on paying close attention to the standards, which are quickly evolving as well.

    Suffice it to say that developing a future-ready infrastructure in today’s high-stakes, fast-moving data center environment is like trying to change your tires while flying down the highway. It takes planning, precision and more than a little insight as to what lies ahead. In Part II, we’ll try to give you the information and forward-looking vision you need to create a standards-based infrastructure that offers plenty of headroom for growth. Let’s get to it.

    Cabling

    To enlarge their capacity, many data centers are taking advantage of a variety of existing and new options. These could include traditional duplex and new parallel optic applications, four-pair and eight-pair singlemode and multimode connectors, WDM. The objective is increased capacity and efficiency. The challenge for many is charting a course that leads from your existing state (often with a very large installed base) to something that might be two steps ahead with different network topologies, connector types and cabling modules.

    Combining the four pillars to enable 400G/800G and above

    The four pillars of the data center infrastructure—port density, transceivers, connectors and cabling—provide a logical way to view the core components needed to support 400G and beyond. Within each pillar are a multitude of options. The challenge for network operators is understanding the pros and cons of the individual options while, at the same time, being able to recognize the inter-relationship between the four pillars. A change in cabling will most likely affect the proper selection of transceivers, port configurations and connectors. Those designing and managing the networks of the future must simultaneously live in the micro and the macro. The following are examples of where this is being done.

    Moving to 800G

    Things are moving fast, and—spoiler alert—they have just jumped again. The good news is that, between the standards bodies and the industry, significant and promising developments are underway that will get data centers to 400G and 800G in the near future. Clearing the technological hurdles is only half the challenge, however. The other is timing. With refresh cycles running every two to three years and new technologies coming online at an accelerating rate, it becomes more difficult for operators to time their transitions properly—and more expensive if they fail to get it right. Here are some things to keep in mind as you plan for the changes to come.

    Beyond 800G (1.6T)

    With the paint still wet on 400G and 800G modules, the race to 1.6T and 3.2T has already begun. There are technical challenges to solve and standards and alliances to build before we get there. Optical design engineers continue to weigh the cost and risk of increasing lane rates vs adding more lanes. Regardless, the industry will need all its tools to reach the next network speeds.

    Conclusions

    Admittedly, there is a long list of things to consider regarding a high-speed migration to 400 Gb and beyond. The question is, what should you be doing? A great first step is to take stock of what you’ve got in your network today. How is it currently designed? For example, you’ve got patch panels and trunk cables between points, but what about the connections? Do your trunk cables have pins or not? Does the pin choice align with the transceivers you plan to use? Consider the transitions in the network. Are you using MPO-to-duplex, a single MPO to two MPOs? Without detailed information on the current state of your network, you won’t know what’s involved in adapting it for tomorrow’s applications.

    Speaking of future applications, what does your organization’s technology roadmap look like? How much runway do you need to prepare your infrastructure to support the evolving speed and latency requirements? Do you have the right fiber counts and architecture?

    These are all things you may already be considering, but who else is at the table? If you’re on the network team, you need to be in dialogue with your counterparts on the infrastructure side. They can help you understand what’s installed, and you can alert them to future requirements and plans that may be further down the road.

    Reply
  30. Tomi Engdahl says:

    400GE optical transceivers
    Start with the end in mind
    The optical market for 400G is being driven by cost and
    performance as OEMs try to dial into the data centers’ sweet
    spot.
    In 2017, CFP8 became the first-generation 400GE module form
    factor to be used in core routers and DWDM transport client
    interfaces. The module dimensions are slightly smaller than
    CFP2, while the optics support either CDAUI-16 (16x25G NRZ)
    or CDAUI-8 (8x50G PAM4) electrical I/O. Lately, the focus has
    shifted to the second-generation 400GE form factor modules:
    QSFP-DD and OSFP.
    Developed for use with high port-density data center switches,
    these thumb-sized modules enable 12.8 Tbps in 1RU via 32 x
    400GE ports and support CDAUI-8 (8x50G PAM4) electrical I/O
    only.
    While the CFP8, QSFP-DD and OSFP are all hot-pluggable, that’s
    not the case with all 400GE transceiver modules. Some are
    mounted directly on the host printed circuit board.

    https://www.commscope.com/globalassets/digizuite/712076-400g-and-beyond-eb-114804-en.pdf

    Reply
  31. Tomi Engdahl says:

    Universal connectivity grid (UCG): the Fact File
    Connectivity is the 4th utility
    https://www.commscope.com/insights/the-enterprise-source/universal-connectivity-grid-the-fact-file/

    Modern workplaces are changing. They’re now dynamic places that are more connected than ever before. You have numerous devices and objects to connect, and demanding end users to keep happy. How do you do it?

    A converged infrastructure can help. It supports real estate, facilities and IT services all in a single architecture. A universal connectivity grid (UCG) lets you ensure this architecture connects every user and device—even when they’re on the move.

    What is the universal connectivity grid (UCG)?

    UCG lets you deploy cable infrastructure in an enterprise environment with the maximum flexibility and scalability necessary to support all workplace activities. Think of it as your body’s nervous system; it takes sensorization, command and control, and data to every part of your body that needs it.

    UCG is:

    Universal: It provides access to virtually any device, as long as it connects through common and standardized protocols like Ethernet, Bluetooth, or Zigbee
    Connectivity: It connects devices to central equipment like switches, servers, and similar
    Grid: Implementation guidelines are based on service areas, the size of which varies on the applications to be served

    The workplace is evolving. New advances in wired and wireless technologies, plus a general cultural shift to greater mobility, has seen the workstation-centric model transform into a distributed, device-centric model.

    The most effective way of making sure a workplace has ubiquitous connectivity is placing service concentration points in or near the ceiling, where they’re able to easily reach a DAS antenna, workstation, security camera, or HVAC equipment. UCG gives you a consistent yet agile way to make sure your structured cabling is always where you need it, without you having to spend a fortune on installations that disrupt your business.

    UCG drivers

    When structured cabling was introduced, its main purpose was to be a standardized medium to connect workstations, desk phones, and other devices. It marked the start of open architecture in the infrastructure world.

    Since then, buildings have evolved to incorporate many smart systems. Generally this means using their own cabling media—of which there could be many different types.

    This evolution to smart buildings is happening alongside a transformation in telecoms cabling: the shift from workstation-centric to device-centric in the workplace means a growing number of connectivity points located in or near ceilings. And, on top of providing users with connectivity in the workplace, connectivity points are also needed in other locations to support the growth of technologies such as:

    Wireless technologies—chiefly Wi-Fi and in-building wireless solutions like DAS and small cells that need additional connections in ceilings for access points around your building
    Security and access control systems that increasingly use ceiling connectivity for power over Ethernet (PoE)-powered cameras, controllers and card readers
    Space and energy management systems that use sensors spread throughout buildings or sites to make the most of your space and support occupancy-based energy management by integrating with network-controlled LED lights and HVAC systems
    Other PoE-enabled devices
    Digital displays that are being used more and more for things like space and energy monitoring and showing the locations of unoccupied meeting rooms or personnel
    An ever-increasing ecosystem of other internet of things (IoT)-connected devices and services

    What are the advantages of UCG?

    In enterprise spaces, communications infrastructure is typically made up of two basic elements: the backbone, also known as the vertical or riser, and the horizontal. The backbone connects telecommunications rooms (TRs) to centrally-located equipment rooms (ERs). Backbone media is typically OM3, OM4 or OM5 multimode or singlemode fiber-optic cable, able to support high-bandwidth applications, though copper cabling can also be used for low-bandwidth applications.

    This architecture lets you make modifications without major expense or disruption to daily operations.

    UCG is an evolved concept from the Structured Cabling System (SCS) that we took an in-depth look at previously here on The Enterprise Source.

    A few take-aways:

    Spaces need to be flexible—Office spaces designed to focus on traditional static, private workspaces are seen as limiting how people can efficiently use space. Spaces that can safely foster easy collaboration for both in-person and remote workers will likely be more common.
    Hot desking—Flexible hours and workstyles were on the rise before the pandemic. Post-pandemic, they may become more mainstream—leading to a reduction in personal offices, cubicles or desks.
    Health and safety are paramount—Health and safety have become more prominent in workers’ and managers’ minds—leading to consideration of spacing, cleaning rotation, capacity, and air quality.

    To support these new workspace priorities, you’ll benefit from underlying technology innovation and investment. For example, smart building systems can automatically track and manage occupancy, cleaning crews, air quality and safety, while Wi-Fi networks support workers moving around anywhere within an office space.

    UCG: flexible infrastructure for flexible workspaces

    Enabling a flexible workspace needs a network architecture that is as flexible and dynamic as the workforce it supports. CommScope’s universal connectivity grid (UCG) does this by organizing a workspace into areas called “cells.” By deploying consolidation points (CPs) for network connectivity in these areas, you can equip your building to provide highly flexible workspace options while still supporting the core network needs of the workforce.

    The UCG lets you support multiple applications that enable the workplace of the future, including wireless LANs (WLANs), mobile technologies, health and safety sensors, building automation, and access control. In collaboration spaces that carry heavier wireless requirements, you can use CPs to provide power and connectivity to more WLAN access points. WLAN and wired connectivity can support focused workspaces in a shared desk area and also support systems that detect occupancy, to let others know what spaces are available, or to notify building services that a space should be cleaned before someone else can use it.

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