Ethernet Alliance Chairman: Flexible Ethernet is the key direction for future network development

In the past, when people mentioned Ethernet, the first thing that came to mind might be the RJ-45 connector for connecting computers. After more than 30 years of development, Ethernet has become ubiquitous, covering more and more fields such as enterprise and campus networks, operator networks, home networks, user terminals, large data centers and service providers.

In this regard, John D'Ambrosia, Chairman of the Ethernet Alliance and Huawei's chief architect in the Ethernet field, said in an exclusive interview that the most important development trend of IP networks is Ethernetization, and the Ethernetization of data services has become a global dominant trend; the accelerated innovation and evolution of Ethernet technology has laid the foundation for future-oriented all-IP network bearer; flexible Ethernet has become a key direction for future network development.

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John D'Ambrosia, Chairman of the Ethernet Alliance and Chief Architect of Ethernet at Huawei

New applications drive Ethernet speed and innovation

In the first 30 years after the birth of Ethernet, six Ethernet speeds were produced from 10M to 100GE: 10M, 100M, GE, 10GE, 40GE, and 100GE, basically showing a development trend of a 10-fold increase in speed every 10 years.

However, in the past three to five years, new Ethernet rates have begun to evolve in multiple dimensions, and the industry has begun to be interested in six new Ethernet rates: from 2.5GE to 400GE, including 2.5GE, 5GE, 25GE, 50GE, 200GE, and 400GE. In 2016 alone, the industry introduced three Ethernet rates (2.5GE, 5GE, and 25GE), and three more Ethernet rates (50GE, 200GE, and 400GE) are currently in the process of standardization.

In John D'Ambrosia's view, various applications have driven the evolution and innovation of Ethernet, and large data centers are still the earliest application and innovation of new Ethernet technologies. In general, the development of Ethernet has the following three main driving forces: the application of data centers has promoted the evolution of 25GE-400GE Ethernet; the demand for high-speed and large-bandwidth networks of telecom operators has promoted the development of 50GE, 200GE and 400GE Ethernet; the high-speed access-side applications of enterprises have promoted the development of 2.5GE and 5GE Ethernet. In addition, some industry application scenarios are also giving rise to new Ethernet interfaces, such as automotive Ethernet, industrial Ethernet, and Ethernet power supply.

The rapid development of high-speed Ethernet not only brings a tenfold increase in speed, but also further improves the overall performance of Ethernet while increasing the speed of a single channel. "The innovation of high-speed Ethernet interfaces will enable more extensive applications," John D'Ambrosia pointed out. For example, PAM4 technology is widely used in Ethernet, providing low-cost and high-bandwidth possibilities for future Ethernet. The 50GE/200GE/400GE standards are based on the same 56G PAM4 technology and share the technology platform, which is the direction of the next generation of Ethernet. In the future, PAM4 technology will be widely used in new Ethernet speeds.

Flexible Ethernet based on slicing technology becomes a trend

Looking to the future, flexible Ethernet will become the key direction of future network development, and flexible Ethernet based on slicing technology will become a future trend. John D'Ambrosia pointed out that the application of network slicing solutions of Ethernet interfaces in large networks will achieve bandwidth elasticity and flexible allocation (slicing and binding); dedicated hard pipes to ensure service quality and security; provide low-latency solutions; and can also be integrated with SDN technology. In operator networks, flexible Ethernet based on interface channelization technology can provide network slicing, sub-interface isolation and other functions, supporting future network architecture based on business experience.

According to John D'Ambrosia, the development of Ethernet can be roughly divided into the following three stages:

The first stage is Native Ethernet: It was created in 1980 and is widely used in campus, enterprise and data center interconnection. It is based on the open standard of IEEE 802.3/1 and supports interconnected products. It has since been further extended to HPC, storage and vertical application fields, giving birth to the industry's most extensive and powerful ecosystem.

The second stage is Carrier Ethernet: since its development in 2000, it has provided carrier-grade metropolitan area networks, 3G/4G/4.5G bearer networks and dedicated line access services for carrier network applications; through the introduction of IP/MPLS technology, it has carrier-grade functions such as QoS/QoE guarantee, OAM, protection switching and high-performance clock, enabling carrier networks to achieve low-cost, high-reliability network construction and reduce maintenance costs.

The third stage is Flexible Ethernet: starting in 2015, it is aimed at latency-sensitive business needs such as cloud services, network slicing, AR/VR/ultra-high-definition video in 5G networks; through interface technology innovation, it realizes the evolution of high-speed large-port 400GE, 1TE, etc. and channelization to achieve sub-rate bearing, hard pipe and isolation, and latency-sensitive network technology; further builds intelligent end-to-end links to achieve a data network with guaranteed IP low latency and high QoS services.

Work with the industry to build a broad and mature ecosystem

With the continuous changes in communication methods and the continuous improvement of user experience requirements, higher demands have been placed on the development of Ethernet. Large bandwidth, low cost, secure and reliable, and extensive interconnection are the current industry's expectations for Ethernet technology.

"But a symphony cannot be performed by one person, but requires the concerted efforts of the entire orchestra. Therefore, if we want to realize the industry's many expectations for Ethernet, open cooperation and building a broad Ethernet ecosystem are crucial." John D'Ambrosia said that as a global Ethernet industry promotion organization jointly participated by end users, system suppliers, component suppliers and academia, the Ethernet Alliance will work with the industry from a forward-looking perspective to promote the development of the Ethernet industry, promote the formulation of existing and emerging IEEE 802 Ethernet standards, and accelerate the industry's adoption of the above standards; continue to be committed to promoting extensive interconnection and industry development, demonstrate interoperability between multiple manufacturers; and join hands with all parties in the industry to jointly build a broad and mature Ethernet ecosystem.

In terms of promoting the formulation of Ethernet standards, IEEE 802.3/1 is the birthplace of Ethernet technology and an industry development platform. It is the standards organization with the largest number of participants and companies in the field of network interconnection, and is committed to supporting the healthy development of the industry with the most advanced technical solutions and standards. At the same time, as the chairman of the IEEE P802.3bs 200GE & 400GE working group and the chairman of the IEEE 802.3 ECDC Ethernet Innovation Application Working Group, John D'Ambrosia has a very deep understanding of the evolution of Ethernet technology and standards.

According to John D'Ambrosia, currently, three Ethernet standards, 50GE, 200GE, and 400GE, are being formulated. As the development direction of the next generation of Ethernet, the 50GE standard industry has launched the 802.3cd project, and plans to complete the standard formulation and formal release in 2018; the 200GE and 400GE 802.3bs standards have started the Sponsor Ballot voting as planned, and are scheduled to be completed in March 2017; the 400GE standard is progressing smoothly, and we hope to complete it as soon as possible.