BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Ethernet Alliance, a global consortium dedicated to the continued success and advancement of Ethernet today revealed the successful completion of its most recent Data Center Bridging (DCB) interoperability plugfest. Held at the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL) during the week of October 17, the event attracted a broad range of cross-discipline, Ethernet Alliance member companies. The growing number of participants highlights the industry’s increasing mastery of DCB technologies.
“DCB is enabling the convergence of traditional Ethernet and storage traffic on one, lossless Ethernet cable. This interoperability testing confirms that the standards are complete and we have products that create an eco-system of solutions that are ready to be deployed,” said Joy Jiang of JDSU, chair of the DCB Plugfest.
The latest in a series of Ethernet Alliance-sponsored plugfests was dedicated to the testing of DCB technologies per IEEE 802.1Qxx standards. With various network topologies and interconnect technologies, the testing involved a diverse array of member companies, including CommScope Inc., Dell (NASDAQ: DELL), Emulex (NYSE: ELX), Extreme Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXTR), Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC), Ixia (NASDAQ: XXIA), JDSU (NASDAQ: JDSU), Nexans S.A. (EN Paris: NEX), and Panduit Corp., and SANBlaze Technology, Inc. among others. A number of industry-firsts were achieved during the event, including construction and demonstration of an end-to-end DCB network via the IEEE 802.1Q standard DCBX protocol. The network was backward compatible with the pre-IEEE DCBX protocol, and the first publicly run, lossless Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) and Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) over DCB traffic via 10GBase-T interconnection. The group also monitored data integrity, I/O throughput, and IEEE 802.1Qbb Priority Flow Control (PFC) behaviors, and established that Enhanced Transmission Selection (ETS) bandwidth provisioning overrules other transmission queue managements in DCB-enabled networks.
In its position as the industry’s leading forum for advocacy, action, and the cultivation of disruptive Ethernet technologies, the Ethernet Alliance actively provides members with a wealth of resources and opportunities, such as its plugfests. Through its educational and consensus-building capabilities, the organization provides unparalleled support for the greater Ethernet ecosystem, allowing for faster creation and go-to-market delivery of next-generation technologies. The organization further acts as a platform for practical development of products and solutions by hosting interoperability and learning events led by real-world practitioners. The group’s efforts have generated measurable added value for its members, the industry, and end-users.
“The efforts to educate and accelerate new technology development and adoption provide confidence to both industries and consumers,” said Sunil Ahluwalia, chair, Ethernet for datacenter subcommitee, Ethernet Alliance. “By providing this vital support and technology leadership to vendors, manufacturers, and the users they serve, the Ethernet Alliance is facilitating the continued growth and evolution of the global Ethernet ecosystem.”
For more information about the Ethernet Alliance, please visit www.ethernetalliance.org, follow @EthernetAllianc on Twitter, visit its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/20072238365/, or join the Ethernet Alliance LinkedIn group at http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Ethernet-Alliance-3910011.
About the Ethernet Alliance
The Ethernet Alliance is a global consortium that includes system and component vendors, industry experts and university and government professionals who are committed to the continued success and expansion of Ethernet technology. The Ethernet Alliance takes Ethernet standards to market by supporting activities that span from incubation of new Ethernet technologies to interoperability demonstrations and education.
For more information, visit www.ethernetalliance.org. Individuals who would like to receive updates on Ethernet Alliance news, activities and events may sign up for the organization’s newsletter at www.ethernetalliance.org/newsletter.