UNH-IOL Launches 10 Gig Data Center Test Bed
 

UNH-IOL, a neutral, third-party laboratory dedicated to testing data networking technologies through industry collaboration announced the launch of the first multi-vendor top-down 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) test bed focusing on multi-vendor compatibility for emerging 10GbE technologies and applications typically used in commercial data centers.

Built in cooperation with the Ethernet Alliance, the first '10 Gig Tech Summit' will be held from September 24th to 28th, 2007. The event will demonstrate interoperability not only between devices but also between various Ethernet-based data, clustering and storage systems. Once it has been tested and debugged, the test bed will support testing and demonstration of high-level business and other 10GbE-capable applications such as financial databases, storage arrays and computer clusters.

Companies signed up to participate include: Circadient, Dell, Extreme, Force10, Foundry, Fulcrum Micro, Intel, Methode, Motorola, Napatech, NetEffect, Realtek, ServerEngines, Solarflare, Spirent, Tehuti, Teak Technologies and Xilinx.

The tests will demonstrate the technologies' ability to handle applications on individual adapters as well as in a single unified Ethernet fabric. The test plans encompass multiple flavors of 10GbE, including LRM and SFP+ solutions, 10GBASE-T copper, KR/KX4 backplane, CX4 copper, and LR/SR/ER optics. Applications for 10GbE networking to be tested include iWARP (RDMA over Ethernet) services and iSCSI storage. Results will be captured in a white paper and possibly showcased in a demo at November's SuperComputing'07 in Reno, NV.

In addition to establishing a complex, heterogeneous data center environment and testing interoperability between different technologies, the 10 Gig Tech Summit will be capable of testing specific conformance and interoperability scenarios for the following technologies:

    * Low-latency Ethernet Switching
    * 10GbE interconnects, including 10GBASE-T, LRM and KR
    * 10GbE Server Adapters including iWarp Systems, iSCSI Storage and TOE
    * Real-time applications such as voice-over IP (VoIP) and common Web and database applications

"The Ethernet Alliance is pleased to support the UNH InterOperability Lab's efforts at the upcoming 10 Gig Tech Summit," said Brad Booth, president, Ethernet Alliance. "This summit will bring together key industry players, including several Ethernet Alliance members, in a third-party environment to eliminate barriers to entry and enable faster adoption of 10 Gigabit Ethernet."