Data Center Ethernet: Is a Bigger Pipe Enough?

Ron Wilson, Altera

In the enormous pressures and temperatures far beneath the Earth’s surface, minerals take on forms impossible to replicate in our familiar environment. Hence carbon may become diamond, or quartz, or graphite.

Similarly, in the intense, dynamic environment of the data center, familiar Ethernet is taking on configurations unimaginable to its inventors at Xerox PARC. As with carbon, the results will take many forms that may not share a resemblance. But unlike minerals, that take a form and remain in it, within the crucible of the data center each Ethernet adapter will have to continually change to support the shifting application environment. It is no longer enough to just get a bigger pipe.

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