BEAVERTON, Ore., Nov. 10 — The Ethernet Alliance, a global consortium dedicated to the continued success and advancement of Ethernet technologies, today announced details of its multi-vendor SC15 demo highlighting Ethernet’s growing range of interconnect solutions for high-performance computing (HPC). Uniting 10, 25, 40, and 100 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) equipment and technologies into an interoperability display emulating conditions found in real-world supercomputing environments, the demo illustrates Ethernet’s tangible benefits and rising importance to HPC. The Ethernet Alliance’s demo can be experienced at booth 1219 during the SC15 expo, November 16 – 19, 2015, Neal Kocurek Memorial Austin Convention Center, Austin, Texas.

“HPC environments typically incorporate a multitude of network configurations, depending on the specific application space. The groundswell of innovation sweeping through the Ethernet ecosystem in recent years continues unabated. The rapid development of 25GbE, and those discussions about 50GbE and 200GbE already underway are bringing a host of diverse new Ethernet interconnect options to the supercomputing community,” said Scott Kipp, president, Ethernet Alliance; and principal technologist, Brocade. “As shown in our SC15 demo, Ethernet combines the best of robust, low-latency performance, interoperability, and maximum per-bit cost-effectiveness, delivering greater choice and much-needed flexibility to the HPC network configuration process.”

Accounting for some 30 percent of TOP500 supercomputers, Ethernet continues to be an important technology for the HPC community. The Ethernet Alliance’s SC15 live multi-vendor interoperability demo includes a wide variety of Ethernet technologies and equipment. Supporting an array of mixed media including both copper and fiber, the demo highlights Ethernet’s superior flexibility and its ability to allow network decision-making based on speed, density, distance, or any combination thereof. Among the various elements making up the Ethernet Alliance’s demo are 25GbE/10GbE SFP28 and 100GbE/40GbE QSFP28 ports interconnected with various copper and fiber cable assemblies; SM and LOMM fiber trunks; 25GbE, 40GbE, and 100GbE test ports; 25GbE and 100GbE NIC adapters; servers, switches, and management tools; and more. The display also encompasses a simulation of a real-world data center environment.

Contributing equipment and technologies to its SC15 multi-vendor demo are Ethernet Alliance member companies Amphenol Corporation (NYSE: APH); Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO); CommScope, Inc. (NASDAQ: COMM); Hitachi Ltd.; Ixia (NASDAQ: XXIA); Mellanox Technologies, Ltd. (NASDAQ: MLNX); TE Connectivity (NYSE: TEL); Teledyne LeCroy, Inc.; and Volex (LSE: VLX).

“The complexities of putting together a specification, as well as the systems and technologies involved are exponentially greater today, particularly with the trend toward accelerated standardization timeframes. That these competitive manufacturers are coming together and working collaboratively to make it happen is nothing short of amazing,” said David Rodgers, senior product marketing manager, Teledyne LeCroy; and SC15 technical lead, Ethernet Alliance. “Reflecting Ethernet’s continued diversification, the Ethernet Alliance’s SC15 demo features a broad spectrum of technologies ranging from 10GbE to 100GbE. It illustrates the industry’s commitment to delivering a full suite of flexible interconnect options for HPC and beyond.”

About the Ethernet Alliance

The Ethernet Alliance is a global consortium that includes system and component vendors, industry experts, and university and government professionals who are committed to the continued success and expansion of Ethernet technology. The Ethernet Alliance takes Ethernet standards to market by supporting activities that span from incubation of new Ethernet technologies to interoperability demonstrations and education.

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Source: Ethernet Alliance