Example research essay topic: Gigabit Ethernet Fast Ethernet - 1,632 words

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... Very little delay is introduced by this quick movement of data across the repeater; thus two Class II repeaters are allowed per Fast Ethernet segment. Class I repeaters are slower (140 bit times for its round-trip delay) compared to Class II (92 bits times or less), but provide translation that ensures compatability. Class II repeaters, although faster, support only a single technology.

Standard topologies for 100 Base T networks are one Class I repeater, which allow network diameter of 200 m using copper cable and stations that may be 100 m from the repeater, and two Class II repeaters. The latter are attached via a 5 -m cable that provides a diameter of 205 m and stations that may be 100 m from each repeater. Wide-spread popularity of Fast Ethernet is accounted for its low cost implementation, excellent compatibility with most existing networks, besides Fast Ethernet is still Ethernet, with all it proved reliability and wide-spread popularity. Due to the above reasons Fast Ethernet has become de facto standard in the industry.

Gigabit Ethernet The growing use of high-speed LAN technologies created a need for an even higher speed network technology in the systems including desktop and beyond. Though Fast Ethernet did considerably boost network performance, it is still inadequate for the constantly increasing network traffic. Besides it has created a traffic jams at server connections, switch stacks, and other points of aggregation. Gigabit is the next development of Ethernet technology.

The transfer rate of information is astonishing 1, 000 Mega-bits per second (Mbps), thereby increasing the speed of a 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps network by a factor of 100 or 10 respectively. Gigabit Ethernet uses many of the same technical standards as previous Ethernet versions, and therefore, represents logical and appropriate solution for upgrading the network. Intel and other networking vendors believed that Gigabit Ethernet had two advantages definite strong points to become next de facto standards in networking. First, upgrading to Gigabit from previous Ethernet networks is relatively easy. Current users will be able to upgrade their Ethernet networks at reasonable cost without interrupting existing service. Secondly, Ethernet was traditionally an open technology.

The Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) established standards for Ethernet, thereby permitting numerous vendors to market and distribute the technology, making it the standard for LANs. Initially, GE has three transmission media: long-wave laser over single-mode and multi-mode fiber (1000 Base LX), short-wave laser over multi-mode fiber (1000 Base SX), and balanced shielded 150 -ohm copper cable (1000 Base CX). However, the acceptance of the 1000 Base T standards in 1999, has opened the existing copper infrastructure for widespread deployment of Gigabit. Now, organizations can utilize the copper cabling they already have in place to upgrade their LAN at a small cost. The fiber optics and balanced shielded cables can be employed at the following range: 1000 Base LX is suitable for long-distance transmissions of 200 meters, 1000 Base SX is suitable for shorter transmissions of 50 meters, and balanced shielded 150 -ohm copper cable is suitable for intra-rack connections. The current speed allowable over these types of media with GE is 1. 25 Gbps half-duplex, and 2. 50 Gbps full duplex.

GE has definite advantages in conquering networks compared with competing standards, like Asynchronous Transfer Mode. Cost of implementing and maintaining GE is undeniably lower, it is widely adopted, and closely resembles its predecessors, 10 Base T, and 100 Base T. No extra effort needed in making it compatible with other popular protocols, and virtually every network specialist is familiar with the existing Ethernet protocol. Compatibility with existing network and computer hardware is a tough issue for any newcomer, but not for GE. Already many organizations upgrade their networks using GE standard, addressing narrow points at server connections, boosting bandwidth of switch link and bringing down GE power down to workstations. An increase in server capacities has enabled procession of increasingly larger files, which in turn creates jams over 100 Base T.

This problem is more acute when the network involves a lot of server-to-server communication. Upgrading high-capacity servers with Gigabit NICs can spectacularly improve network traffic. With the price of Gigabit NICs averaging $ 200, going with a 1000 Base T solution here provides the most performance enhancement for the money. Gigabit switch uplink solution can relieve an especially overloaded switched lines. The 1000 Base T standard provides high-bandwidth connectivity from desktop switches to servers.

A Gigabit solution here can help ensure smooth operations by moving traffic quickly from the back end to the front end. Endpoints of each segment may benefit greatly from deployment of Gigabit uplink switches. These uplink switches can be purchased at reasonable prices from various vendors, such as Cisco and 3 -Com. The final level of GE employment is ultimately a desktop.

Some organizations may find that more bandwidth is needed for high-performance workstations. As Gigabit adapters price goes steadily down, an increasing number of companies will consider bringing GE down to desktops. Though GE bandwidth will come only on condition that all connected switches operate at 1000 -Mbps speed, there are a wide variety of 10 / 100 / 1000 connectivity devices that will allow network professionals to negotiate network speed throughout the organization and even down to the desktop, based on their requirements. 10 Gigabit Ethernet Future These days, while most businesses are using Ethernet-based connections that run at either 10 or 100 megabits per second (mbps) or 1 gigabit per second (gbps), networking companies and IEEE group are in the midst of a two-year endeavor to boost Ethernet's speed tenfold: to 10 gbps. "Applications, such as video streaming, are going to flourish, " said Frank Robles, vice president of corporate development for Yipes, a start-up that offers cheap but fast Net service to businesses. "When the handcuffs were taken off with memory of computers, applications exploded. The same thing will happen with more bandwidth. " The new hyper-speed technology promises a whole new world of opportunities. Network providers wait for further development with great enthusiasm, the technology promises them competitive advantages in the market. Newcomers, such as Yipes and Tension, recently captured about US$ 200 million each in venture capital funding.

The start-ups, which also include Cogent Communications and Intelli space, have been using Ethernet-based GE equipment, but 10 GE will enable them to come up with new services, such as video-on-demand and storage of company data. The higher-speed Ethernet products will be used to unclog congestion on corporate networks, providing the extra capacity needed for employees to perform bandwidth-demanding tasks on their computers, such as exchanging large files, conducting video conferences, or making phone calls over the Net. 10 GE have all chances to become as widely popular as 100 Base T now. It has successful heritage of its predecessors; there are over 300 million switched Ethernet installed worldwide. It supports the same media access control (MAC) protocol. And finally, there is whole industry, from chipset vendors and optical components manufacturers up the value chain to systems vendors that shares the design philosophy of the Ethernet: high-volume manufacturing and low-cost design.

Not single vendor standard, however successful it can be, cannot compete with an open source design in terms of prices. Ethernet family The table below shows key features of different Ethernet standards. Ethernet Type Speed Maximum # stations per segment Cable types Notes Switched 10 or 100 Mbs of dedicated bandwidth 10 baset T- 2 10 Base 2 - 30 10 Base 5 - 100 10 Base FL- 2 100 Base T- 2 UTP Cat 3 (10 Base T) Thicknet (coax; 10 Base 5), Thicknet (RG- 58 coax 10 Base 2, Fiber optic 10 vase F, Cat 5 UTP) Provides dedicated bandwidth for all types of Ethernet networks, allowing to speed up most congested segments. 100 Base T or Fast 100 Mbs 2 CAT 5 UTP Can be interconnected with standard Ethernet trough us of dual-speed hubs, switches, and routers. Gigabit 1000 Mbs 2 single-mode and multi-mode fiber (1000 Base LX), short-wave laser over multi-mode fiber (1000 Base SX), and balanced shielded 150 -ohm copper cable (1000 Base CX) Compatible with Standard and Fast Ethernet through a wide variety of 10 / 100 / 1000 connectivity devices 10 gigabit 10000 Mbs 2 Single mode fiber, FDDI-grade multimode fiber, and possibly the new, higher-bandwidth multimode fiber.

Currently the standard being further developed. Conclusion This paper has briefly examined four major Ethernet technologies: Switched Ethernet, 100 Base T or Fast Ethernet, Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet. While any choice of employing a particular technology must be, first of all, stipulated by the tasks before a network. Therefore, any meaningful comparison between available technologies should begin with considering the job a network is supposed to do. This paper has merely provided an overview of Ethernet technologies trying to describe main features and implementation of each. Works cited James J.

Rohacik Dr. Loomis. ATM vs. Gigabit Ethernet Cost and Performance Considerations October 22, 1997 November 25, 2002 web Hadriel Caplan.

The Ethernet Evolution September, 2000 November 26, 2002 web ZDNet Australia. Optical ethernet looks like logical upgrade November 27, 2000 November 26, 2002 web Bruce Tolley. Strategic Directions Moving the Decimal Point: An Introduction to 10 Gigabit Ethernet July 15, 2001 November 25, 2002 web Cisco Systems Ethernet Technologies July 2002 November 25, 2002 web i - cubed Ltd. Ethernet Explained 23 June 2001 November 25, 2002 web Anixter Ltd. Ethernet Switching: An Anixter Technology White Paper 12 January, 2001 November 24, 2002 web Del Smith. Use Gigabit Ethernet to eliminate LAN bottlenecks July 17, 2001 November 25, 2002 web E.

panorama. net Local Area Networking 12 June 2001 November 25, 2002 web Microsoft Inc. Home Networking Overview 12 July 2001 November 25, 2002 web

Research essay sample on Gigabit Ethernet Fast Ethernet