Re: [HSSG] Reach Objectives
Steve-
At 10:50 AM 9/4/2006 , Trowbridge, Stephen J (Steve) wrote:
Geoff,
We clearly have a problem at 10G that certain players have taken Ethernet
to be more than a packet network:
- We have the situation that people have put information in parts of the
frame not designed for carrying information (the preamble and IPG).
- We have the problem that some customers think that the entire frame
format, not just the payload is sacred and must not be touched (some of
this stems from the first problem, other parts of this problem are
perception).
I think that it is worth some
effort and careful though to make sure that this does not happen as we
define interfaces for the next rate, e.g., that we keep it simple, and
keep it as a (pure) packet network.
I think that there are two
possible approaches:
- We could make sure that we define ONE frame format and data rate that
works in all contexts
You mean we could continue to
"define ONE frame format
and data rate that works in all contexts"
vs. doing something else, i.e. define a new frame format which
does not work in all contexts.
Sounds like a no-brainer to me.
(Further, I am of the belief that changing the frame format is outside
the scope of "Higher Speed")
Geoff
This
is starting to sound doubtful from the opinions expressed, but if we
COULD achieve a single specification and ensure that anything that
transits one medium would transit another, we could avoid these kinds of
problems.
- I touched on this in the last email, but we could produce a repeater
spec covering all interfaces and frame formats, e.g., if you have
phsycial interfaces/frame formats X and Y, the repeater spec tells you
enough that you could to build X<->X, Y<->Y and X<->Y
repeaters and only what we consider to be the essential or characteristic
information (the payload) would transit the repeater. We could indicate
that any server layer network should meet the requirements for a
repeater. Doing this might discourage inappropriate use of the frame
format to implement proprietary things that would break if you put a
standard repeater between the boxes.
Regards,
Steve
- From: Geoff Thompson
[mailto:gthompso@nortel.com]
- Sent: Sunday, September 03, 2006 8:47 PM
- To: Trowbridge, Stephen J (Steve)
- Cc: STDS-802-3-HSSG@LISTSERV.IEEE.ORG
- Subject: Re: [HSSG] Reach Objectives
At 03:46 PM 9/3/2006 , Trowbridge, Stephen J (Steve)
wrote:
Geoff,
If only it were so simple ...
It is.
Ethernet is a packet network, not a bit or circuit network.
Geoff