Ethernet over Fiber

Some Considerations About Ethernet Over Fiber

Ethernet over fiber, as described in the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet technology specification, probably isn't for everybody. But, in a lot of cases, it might not only be just desirable, but also indispensable. Let's look at its evolution, its advantages and disadvantages, and at how it could be helpful.

The current Ethernet standard is way more advanced than it was when its first adapter came on the market in 1981. Its initial speed was set at ten Megabits per second, which looked quite amazing then, but seems very slow by modern standards. Data were transferred over "thicknet" coaxial cables, which were hard to work with due to their inflexibility.

Eventually, "thicknet" was replaced by the easier-to-handle "thinnet", and speeds increased. Then, "thinnet" cabling was replaced by "twisted-pair wire" cabling, which is even easier to handle and can transfer data at even higher speeds. "Unshielded twisted-pair" cables are now the most commonly-used type of network media, and are now advanced enough to deal with transfer rates of up to ten Gigabits per second.

However, even the best twisted-pair wire technology is susceptible to both cross-talk and electromagnetic interference. Both problems can have a negative impact on the reliable transmission of digital data. The problem gets even worse at higher speeds. Interference sources that won't have too much of an effect on slower networks could have a profound effect on faster networks. Deploying a twisted-pair wire, ten Gigabit network requires both careful design-work and a strict set of certification tests to prove that everything works as it should.

Fiber cabling may cost more initially, but even with the highest speeds, it's entirely impervious to either electromagnetic interference or cross-talk. So, with fiber, you can have more reliable data transfer at rates of up to ten-Gigabits per second. Also, unlike the old copper wire technologies, you don't have to be near as careful to keep data cables away from electrical cables. So, designing the data cable runs has become much easier.

Let's be clear, this latest technology might not yet be for everybody. If your company already has Cat 5 or Cat 6 twisted-wire cabling installed, then upgrading to fiber may be too costly. And, there's a good chance that you don't yet require ten-Gigabit technology on your network.

But, in some specific cases it's difficult to operate without the faster data transmission rates that Ethernet over fiber provider offers. If you're creating a high-performance computing cluster, or if you work at a research institute where huge volumes of research data regularly get transferred, then the new technology is a true necessity. If you want to learn more about it, there's lot's of information on the web.