10 Gigabit Ethernet – 10Gb Ethernet

• 10GbE Networking for HPC-Application and Technology Trends: Part I (HPCWire, by Saqib Jang, Margalla Communications)

The first in a two-part series, this article examines the drivers for 10GbE deployment for high-performance cluster computing (HPCC) environments and related technology trends.  Ten Gigabit-per-second Ethernet (10GbE) represents the next level of Ethernet network
bandwidth, with networking vendors promoting it as the next great capability. But high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure and operations professionals must strike a balance between constant operational improvement and sound financial decision-making. So
far, 10GbE has been a high-end luxury for environments that want maximum performance regardless of cost, but that's changing fast. The per-port pricing gap between 10GbE and alternate network options is narrowing rapidly as more vendors increase the competitive
pressure on pricing for related components.

So where will this technology truly matter for HPC environments? This article examines the impact of 10GbE on HPC infrastructure and provides guidance for the most effective transformation of your network. The initial focus will be on the top drivers and applications for
10GbE deployment in HPC environments and then the leading technology trends impacting 10GbE NIC designs will be reviewed. The next article in the series will examine the major offerings in the 10GbE NIC area.

Read Part I

• "10 Gigabit Ethernet Technology Overview and Applications for Enterprise Data Centers" (BLADE Network Technologies)

  
  As bandwidth-intensive applications such as Web 2.0, Virtualization, High-Performance Computing (HPC) and Network Attached Storage (NAS) continue to proliferate within the Enterprise Data Centers, 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10 GbE) provides a cost-effective way to increase throughput and seamlessly deliver customer service level agreements.
   
  Indeed, with prices falling below $500 per port, 10 GbE switches are fast becoming the technology of choice for the access, distribution and core layers of the data center. Where "point" technologies such as Myrinet for HPC and Fibre Channel for storage once dominated, 10 GbE is steadily displacing or "unifying" these technologies—providing the necessary performance, proven flexibility, and lower-cost advantage.
  
  Nonetheless, today’s 10 GbE switches and routers must provide more than just speeds and feeds. Energy efficiency and cooling are critical factors in optimizing data-center economics—as companies begrudgingly balance performance with power consumption to meet energy budgets.
  
  This Technology Brief is divided into two parts. The first part discusses the evolution of Ethernet, and then focuses on 10 Gigabit Ethernet and related transceiver and cabling technologies. The second part examines BLADE’s RackSwitch product line, including 10 GbE applications within enterprise networks and data centers.

Read the technology brief