10 GE Era Has Arrived

Traditional GE campus networks are unable to meet the increasing demand for cloud
computing and multimedia applications. In order to meet the requirements for highbandwidth use, GE campus networks must be reconstructed. This document analyzes the
development trend of mainstream ports on campus networks. Based on the analysis, 10GE
port will become the mainstream ports used on new-generation campus networks.

Traditional GE Campus Network Reduces Port Usage

i gure 1 shows that in 2012, the supply of

GE ports exceeded the supply of FE ports in
the enterprise market, and that the predicted
demand for GE ports will continue to increase while
demand for FE ports will decrease.
FE
GE

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Figure 1 Supply of GE/FE ports (Gartner)

The majority of GE ports are used at the access layer

on an enterprise network in order to provide gigabitto-the-desktop, which has become the rst choice for
modern enterprise networks.
The gigabit-to-the-desktop solution often uses GE
port binding at the aggregation layer to aggregate
trafc and combines the aggregation and core layers.
In the initial phase, this solution protects enterprise
investments, but reduces port usage in the long run.
For example, a 24-port GE access switch connects to
FEterminals with 10 GE ports. The switch must connect to
GEthe Internet with 10 GE ports to ensure smooth route
convergence. Ports on the switch available to connect
to terminals are therefore reduced to approximately
50%.
A low port usage results in low returns. 10GE highbandwidth ports used at the aggregation layer can
address this problem.

10GE Era Has Arrived

10GE/40GE Industry Chain Becomes Mature

As bandwidth-hungry applications continue to emerge, Ethernet standards continue to be developed. IEEE802.3
(10 m) was defined in 1982, 30 years later and IEEE802.3ba 40/100G has been developed. The time taken to
launch products into commercial use that comply with a new standard has been reduced. As shown in Figure
2, 10GE/40GE ports are launched faster than FE/GE ports. The 100G industry chain will soon become mature,
satisfying users' requirements for the latest technologies available.

7years
FE

GE

7 years
2years

5 years

Standard

40GE

10GE

Industry
Industry
Industry
Industry
chain maturity chain maturity chain maturity chain maturity

Industry
chain
maturity

IEEE802.3
10M

IEEE802.3u
100M

IEEE802.3z
1000M

IEEE802.3ae
10G

IEEE802.3ba
40/100G

2003
1982

1995

1998

2002

IEEE802.11ac
1000M WiFi

2010
2005

2008

2012

Figure 2 Ethernet standard trend

10GE Era Has Arrived

The following information suggests that the 10GE/40GE industry chain is

already mature:
Access, aggregation, and core switches supplied by mainstream vendors
provide high-density 10GE boards, and aggregation and core switches support
high-density 40GE boards. Huawei S9700 provides industry-leading 480 10GE
ports.
The 10GE/40GE port cost decreases significantly. Currently, the cost of one
10GE port is much lower than the cost of 10 GE ports. Because 10GE/40GE
ports provide higher port density than GE ports, enterprises can reduce the cost
of constructing a non-convergence 10GE campus network when compared to
investments in traditional networking.
Enterprise demand for 10GE ports continue to increase. Gartner predicts that
supply of 10GE ports will reach 45.2% of the Compound Annual Growth Rate
(CAGR) in 2015.

10GE
10GE

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Figure 3 10GE port shipment (Gartner)

10GE Campus Network Signicantly Improves

Enterprise Information
With improved bandwidth, enterprises can deploy numerous services, and each
bandwidth upgrade promotes enterprise information.
In the FE era, enterprises only focus on non-real-time services that require low
bandwidth, including network interconnection, le sharing, and email transmission.
In the GE era, enterprise information is signicantly improved. Many enterprises
have integrated information, and some enterprises manage data. An integrated
enterprise office system supports enterprise operations. Enterprises can use
video conferences and voice communication to improve working efciency and
reduce the OPEX.
10GE Era Has Arrived

 In the 10GE era, enterprises can develop new services to ensure continuous information improvement. The
development of the following services will increase:
Spontaneous and desktop Telepresence conference systems: first choice for enterprises to improve
working efficiency and reduce the OPEX. For example, HD monitors and cameras are deployed on
developers' desktops. Developers in different regions communicate with each other through the desktop
Telepresence system to speed up product development.
Desktop cloud, cloud computing, cloud storage: simplify IT operation and maintenance and reduce costs.
Internet of Things: helps enterprises to develop services.
Flexible high-speed mobile office: helps enterprises easily communicate with customers and provide
support rapidly.

Interconnection
and file sharing

Enterprise office
system

Video
conference

Desktop
Telepresence
conference

Spontaneous
Telepresence
conference

Advanced file sharing

Wireless access

Cloud application

Voice
communication
BYOD

Internet of Things

FE era
Small amount of data traffic
of interconnection services
in a small-scale scenario

GE era

10GE era

Small amount of data traffic

of interconnection services
and a few real-time services
in a large-scale scenario

Large amount of data traffic

of interconnection services and
cloud computing and multimedia services
in a super large-scale scenario

Figure 4 Campus network service development trend

10GE Era Has Arrived

Cloud, multimedia, and mobile services will become mainstream services on

enterprise campus networks.
These services require high bandwidth.For example, 1080 HD video requires 10
Mbit/s bandwidth, ve times that of SD video. In addition, the service experience
cannot meet requirements. Super HD video, for example Blu-ray, will become the
mainstream, requiring between 50 Mbit/s to 100 Mbit/s bandwidth. Such services
exceed the capabilities of traditional networks.
When the aggregation layer uses GE ports or GE port binding, it cannot meet
requirements of new services. To develop new services and promote enterprise
information migration on enterprise campus networks, use 10GE ports, high
bandwidth, and large buffer capacity of 10GE switches at the aggregation layer.

10GE Campus Network Architecture

Figure 5 shows a 3-layer architecture consisting of the core layer, aggregation
layer, and access layer. This architecture applies to medium- and large-scale
enterprises.

core
40GE

Aggregation
10GE
Access
GE

Figure 5 3-layer architecture

Figure 6 shows a 2-layer architecture consisting of the core/aggregation layer
and access layer. This architecture applies to small-scale enterprises.
10GE Era Has Arrived
core0Aggregation

core
40GE

Aggregation
10GE
Access
GE

core0Aggregation
10GE

Access
GE

Figure 6 2-layer architecture

The mainstream switch vendors supply 10GE port switches. In addition to 10GE
port switches, enterprises need to focus on the following points during network
deployment:
End-to-end solution
Different enterprises have different industry requirements. A vendor that
provides an end-to-end solution helps enterprises reduce design, deployment,
and operation and maintenance costs. Huawei provides end-to-end and
differentiated 10GE cloud campus network solutions to help enterprises
improve information.
High port density
Higher port density means lower hardware investments. Huawei 10GE
10GE Era Has Arrived

switches, including CE12800/S9700/S9300/S7700/S5700, provide industry-leading

GE port density, 10GE port density, and 40GE port density.
Smooth device upgrade
Because some new services occupy high bandwidth, the core layer tends to use 100GE
ports. To protect enterprise investments, existing core switches are required to support
100GE boards. However, very few mainstream vendors support 100GE boards. Huawei's
complete series of industry-leading core/aggregation switches allow for smooth upgrade
and support 100GE ports.
Low power consumption
An enhanced forwarding capability consumes more device power. Campus network
designers must focus on energy conservation without service interruptions. Based
on an assumed 250 workdays each year, and that an enterprise network is in use for
eight hours every day, an enterprise network operates for 2000 hours each year. If an
energy saving solution is not used, switches work continuously and run 8760 (365 x
24) hours.
Network devices that can enter the dormancy state, especially access devices, can
reduce power consumption.
Huawei uses the Advanced Hibernation Management (AHM), which integrates dormancy
and EEE technologies and implements dormancy at the access, aggregation, and core
layers, reducing power consumption by 30% for the entire network.

Summary
Based on the preceding analysis, the campus network era has arrived and the
10GE campus network is the first choice. Constructing advanced and scalable
10GE campus networks enables enterprises to deploy new services. This
improves enterprise working efficiency and reduces investments.

10GE Era Has Arrived