New Ethernet standards work includes 400GbE, 25GbE developments

During its July plenary meeting held in Waikoloa, Hawaii, the Ethernet Alliance and its IEEE 802.3 Ethernet Working Group members reported progress of a variety of fronts, including 400 Gigabit Ethernet (400GbE) and 25 Gigabit Ethernet (25GbE) standards developments.

The IEEE P802.3bs 400GbE Task Force has established PAM4 as the modulation format for all electrical and optical signaling at 50 Gbps or greater. This follows the adoption of serial 100-Gbps for some applications at the Task Force's previous meeting. As reported by CablingInstall.com's sister site Lightwave, in Hawaii, the task force also adopted all of its baseline proposals, which means it can now begin work on the first draft of the 400GbE specifications, according to the Ethernet Alliance.

Meanwhile, IEEE P802.3by, the proposed standard for 25 Gigabit Ethernet, advanced to Working Group ballot. Several other projects advanced during the meeting. A sampling includes:

-- The NG-EPON Call for Interest led to the formation of a study group.

-- 2.5 and 5 Gigabit Ethernet for object storage applications, which will now be the subjects of the new IEEE 802 study group IEEE P802.3bn, EPON Protocol over Coax (EPoC) PHY, moved closer to initial Working Group ballot after the Task Force reviewed Draft 1.5; it will move to Working Group ballot with Draft 2.0., according to a source that attended the meeting.

-- IEEE P802.3bv, Gigabit Ethernet over Plastic Optical Fiber, is in Task Force review. Draft 1.1 received 474 comments, according to the source. A new timeline adopted and work on Draft 1.2 was authorized.

"Ethernet is in a very dynamic period; there's an exceptional level of energy and excitement driving this technology forward into a diversifying range of rates, applications, and market spaces," commented John D'Ambrosia, chairman, Ethernet Alliance, and chief Ethernet technologist at Dell. "Our largest plugfest ever, representing a meeting of 23 different ecosystem partners, perfectly illustrates the expanding breadth of industry interest in the tangible benefits offered by Ethernet's ever-widening family of speeds, such as 40G/100G."

The next IEEE plenary meeting will take place November 8-13, 2015 in Dallas.

Source:Lightwave