10Gigabit Ethernet Choosing the Right Media Type for YOUR Network Requirements David P. Percival, RCDD Senior Systems Engineer ADC BICSI Western Regional Meeting Tuesday, 13 March 2007
Presentation Outline Standards activity relevant to media selection 10Gigabit Ethernet protocols Media options for supporting 10Gigabit Ethernet Media-specific advantages and disadvantages Which media type is right for my network? Summary
Standards Activity - IEEE IEEE 802.3ae-2002 10Gigabit Ethernet over Singlemode/Multimode Optical Fiber LAN Protocols Defined: 10GBASE-SR 10GBASE-LR 10GBASE-ER 10GBASE-LX4
Standards Activity - IEEE IEEE 802.3af-2003 Power over Ethernet (PoE) on Twisted-Pair Cabling Support for 10BASE-T, 100BASE-T, 1000BASE-T devices Two options for two-pair powering scheme (1-2/3-6 or 4-5/7-8) Maximum power consumption of 12.95 watts per device Maximum power output of 15.4 watts per port
Standards Activity - IEEE IEEE 802.3ak-2004 10Gigabit Ethernet over Twin-Axial Copper Media LAN Protocol Defined: 10GBASE-CX4
Standards Activity - IEEE IEEE 802.3an-2006 10Gigabit Ethernet over Twisted-Pair Cabling LAN Protocol Defined: 10GBASE-T
Standards Activity - IEEE IEEE 802.3aq-2006 10Gigabit Ethernet over Multimode Optical Fiber LAN Protocol Defined: 10GBASE-LRM
Standards Activity - IEEE IEEE 802.3at- (Task Force) Enhancements to Power over Ethernet Standard - PoE Plus Support for 10BASE-T, 100BASE-T, 1000BASE-T, 10GBASE-T Possible four-pair powering Minimum of 30 watts output power, perhaps up to 60 watts
Standards Activity - IEEE IEEE 802.3 Higher Speed Study Group Continuing to push the envelope Exploring 100 Gigabit Ethernet Up to 100 meters on 50/125µm LOF MM (WDM) Up to 10 kilometers on SM (Serial or WDM) Anticipating standard by ~2012
Standards Activity TIA/EIA TIA-942 Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Data Centers Published April 2005 Highlights Best Practices for Data Center infrastructure Recommends Category 6 be installed at minimum
Standards Activity TIA/EIA TIA TSB-155 Additional Guidelines for 4-Pair 100 Ohm Category 6 Cabling for 10GBase-T Applications Published December 2006 Specifies performance requirements for supporting 10GBase-T on an installed base of Category 6 cabling (with distance limitations) Specifies field testing procedures for validation Describes Alien Crosstalk Mitigation techniques
Standards Activity TIA/EIA TIA/EIA-568-B.2-10 (Draft) Transmission Performance Requirements for 4-Pair 100 Ohm Augmented Category 6 Cabling Anticipating publication late 2007 Specifies performance requirements for Augmented Cat 6 cabling Supports 10GBASE-T to 100 meters on twisted-pair cabling
Standards Activity ISO/IEC ISO/IEC 11801 Edition 2.1 (Draft) Generic Cabling for Customer Premises Anticipating publication late 2007 Specifies performance requirements for Class E A &F A cabling Supports 10GBASE-T to 100 meters on twisted-pair cabling
10Gigabit Ethernet Protocols 10GBASE-SR (Short Range) Serial Transmission 850nm VCSEL Transceiver Multimode Optical Fiber (62.5/125µm & 50/125 µm) Distances Supported: 35 65 meters on 62.5/125µm Up to 150 meters on 50/125µm 300 550 meters on laser-optimized 50/125µm
10Gigabit Ethernet Protocols 10GBASE-LR (Long Range) Serial Transmission 1310nm DFB Laser Transceiver Singlemode Optical Fiber Distance Supported: Up to 10 kilometers
10Gigabit Ethernet Protocols 10GBASE-ER (Extended Range) Serial Transmission 1550nm DFB Laser Transceiver Singlemode Optical Fiber Distance Supported: Up to 40 kilometers
10Gigabit Ethernet Protocols 10GBASE-LX4 4-Channel Multiplexed Transmission (WWDM 3.125 Gb/s/ch) 1260nm, 1280nm, 1300nm & 1310nm DFB Laser Transceivers Singlemode or Multimode Fiber (62.5/125µm & 50/125µm) Distances Supported: 300-550 meters on multimode Up to 10 kilometers on singlemode
10Gigabit Ethernet Protocols 10GBASE-LRM Serial Transmission 1310nm FP Laser Transceivers Multimode Optical Fiber (62.5/125µm & 50/125 µm) Distance Supported: Up to 220 meters
10Gigabit Ethernet Protocols 10GBASE-CX4 4-Channel Bi-Directional Serial Transmission (2.5 Gb/s/ch) Copper-Based Transceivers Twin-Axial Copper Cable Assemblies Distance Supported: Up to 15 meters
10Gigabit Ethernet Protocols 10GBASE-T 4-Channel Bi-Directional Serial Transmission (2.5 Gb/s/ch) Copper-Based Transceivers Twisted-Pair Copper Cable (Cat 6, Cat 6A or Cat 7) Distances Supported: Up to 55 meters on Cat 6 (may require Alien Crosstalk Mitigation) Up to 100 meters on Cat 6A and Cat 7
Media Options for Supporting 10GbE Optical Fiber Singlemode 50/125µm Multimode (various grades) 62.5/125µm Multimode (various grades) CX-4 Cables Factory-Connectorized Twin-Axial Cable Assemblies Note some non-standard RJ45 interfaces are available
Media Options for Supporting 10GbE Shielded Twisted-Pair S/FTP (Cat 6, Cat 6A and Cat 7) F/UTP (Cat 6 and Cat 6A) Unshielded Twisted-Pair U/UTP (Cat 6 and Cat 6A)
Advantages of Singlemode Advantages: Highest bandwidth of any current media type Longest distances supported (up to 40km) Opportunity for supporting the next protocol (100GbE to 10km) Smaller media than copper-based solutions No EMI or Alien Crosstalk concerns
Disadvantages of Singlemode Disadvantages: Most expensive transceivers More expensive than twisted-pair and most other fiber types Quality of terminations, splices, end face alignment critical Field termination not recommended No support for Power over Ethernet
Advantages of 50/125µm LOF MM Advantages: Highest bandwidth of all current multimode fiber types Can use less expensive VCSELs for reaches up to 550m Opportunity for supporting the next protocol (100GbE to 100m) Smaller media than copper-based solutions No EMI or Alien Crosstalk concerns Field termination acceptable
Disadvantages of 50/125µm LOF MM Disadvantages: Not widely installed, but rapidly gaining popularity More expensive than other multimode fiber types Transceivers more expensive than copper-based No support for Power over Ethernet
Advantages of 50/125µm Multimode Advantages: Moderately wide installed base (LAN backbone) Less expensive than 50µm LOF and singlemode fiber types Can use less expensive VCSELs for moderate reaches (150m) Smaller media than copper-based solutions No EMI or Alien Crosstalk concerns Field termination acceptable
Disadvantages of 50/125µm Multimode Disadvantages: More expensive than some twisted-pair cable types Transceivers more expensive than copper-based VCSEL transmission distances limited to 150meters Expensive lasers and/or MUX-ing required for greater reach No support for Power over Ethernet
Advantages of 62.5/125µm Multimode Advantages: Widely installed base (LAN backbone) Can use less expensive VCSELs for shorter reaches (35-65m) Smaller media than copper-based solutions No EMI or Alien Crosstalk concerns Field termination acceptable
Disadvantages of 62.5/125µm Multimode Disadvantages: More expensive than some twisted-pair cable types Transceivers more expensive than copper-based VCSEL transmission distances very limited (35-65m) Expensive lasers and/or MUX-ing required for greater reach No support for Power over Ethernet
Advantages of CX-4 Cables Advantages: Less expensive transceivers than fiber-based solutions Excellent immunity to EMI and Alien Crosstalk Excellent immunity to internal Crosstalk Rapid deployment with factory-terminated cable assemblies Electronics widely available today
Disadvantages of CX-4 Cables Disadvantages: Limited application More expensive than twisted pair and some fiber types Transceivers more expensive than twisted-pair solutions Very limited transmission distance (15m or less) Larger media than fiber and some copper solutions Field termination impossible for standardized implementation No support for Power over Ethernet
Advantages of S/FTP Advantages: Transceivers less expensive than fiber and CX-4 Excellent immunity to EMI and Alien Crosstalk Excellent immunity to internal Crosstalk Highest bandwidth of current twisted pair offerings Supports 10GbE to 100m Support for Power over Ethernet S/FTP(aka SSTP, Cat7, PIMF)
Disadvantages of S/FTP Disadvantages: Not widely installed (North America) Most expensive twisted-pair cabling Larger media than fiber and most twisted-pair cables Proper grounding of shield critical to performance Field termination more time-consuming than U/UTP Higher signal attenuation than U/UTP cabling PoE Plus heat dissipation a possible concern
Advantages of F/UTP Advantages: Less expensive than fiber, S/FTP and CX-4 cabling Transceivers less expensive than fiber and CX-4 Smaller media than S/FTP, CX-4 and some Cat 6A U/UTP Good immunity to EMI and Alien Crosstalk (if installed properly) Field termination easier than fiber and S/FTP Support for Power over Ethernet F/UTP(aka FTP or ScTP)
Disadvantages of F/UTP Disadvantages: Not widely installed (North America) More expensive than most U/UTP cables Larger media than fiber-based solutions and most Cat 6 U/UTP Proper grounding of shield critical to performance Higher signal attenuation than U/UTP cabling Performance must be verified to 500 MHz (Cat 6) PoE Plus heat dissipation a possible concern
Advantages of Cat 6A U/UTP Advantages: Less expensive than some fiber and shielded solutions Transceivers less expensive than fiber and CX-4 Good immunity to Alien Crosstalk Easier/more familiar field termination vs. fiber and shielded No shield grounding required Supports 10GbE to 100m Support for PoE and PoE Plus
Disadvantages of Cat 6A U/UTP Disadvantages: Not widely installed no standard yet More susceptible to EMI than fiber or shielded solutions Larger media than fiber and most other copper solutions May require sample ANEXT/AFEXT testing
Advantages of Cat 6 U/UTP Advantages: Widely installed base (LAN Horizontal) Smallest and least expensive media Transceivers less expensive than fiber and CX-4 Easiest/most familiar field termination vs. fiber, shielded & 6A No shield grounding required Support for PoE and PoE Plus U/UTP
Disadvantages of Cat 6 U/UTP Disadvantages: More susceptible to EMI than fiber or shielded solutions Susceptible to Alien Crosstalk Limited transmission distance for 10GbE (37m) May require Alien Crosstalk Mitigation for 10GbE to 55m Requires internal electrical testing to 500 MHz Will require sample ANEXT/AFEXT testing
Which Media Type is Right for My Network? It depends There is no one size fits all solution Different media types may be required according to: Distance (Long Haul/Short Haul) Environment (BB/Hz, Premises/Data Center, New/Retrofit) Additional network applications (PoE, PoE Plus) 10GbE deployment timeline (Immediate/Future) Cost
Summary Keys to selecting the right media: Understand the 10GbE protocols and the media they require Understand the differences in the cost of the transceivers Know the distance limitations of the media for a given protocol Consider which media may be best for a particular environment Take into account all of the applications that may be used Understand the cost differences of the media types Understand associated costs - infrastructure, installation, testing
10Gigabit Ethernet Choosing the Right Media Type for YOUR Network Requirements Thank You!