A Guide to 10G Ethernet Adapters and Controller Chips
First Edition

     
Table of Contents
       
  Return to
Report Page
 
Preface
xvii
Executive Summary
xix
   
Chapter 1. Enterprise Networking
1
     What Is a LAN?
1
     Evolution of Ethernet LANs
1
     Cable Plants
3
     Ethernet Switches
3
     Client and Server Connections
4
     Data-Center Networking 
4
Chapter 2. Ethernet Technology
7
     Network Layers and IEEE 802 Standards
7
     Link Layers
9
     Ethernet Physical Layers
11
          Fast Ethernet
12
          Gigabit Ethernet
12
          10GbE Optical
13
          10GBase-LRM
13
          10GBase-CX4
14
          10GBase-T
14
          Backplane Ethernet Standards
15
     Physical-Layer Interfaces
15
     Optical Modules
16
     Related Protocols
18
     Upper-Layer Protocols
20
Chapter 3.  Server Technology
25
     PCI Express
25
          Background

25

          Technology Overview
26
          Companion Specification
28
     Operating Systems and Drivers
28
          Virtualization
30
     Blade-Server Architecture
30
Chapter 4.  Gigabit and 10G Ethernet Chips
33
      Controllers for NIC/LOM
33
           Common Characteristics
33
           Performance
35
           Software Considerations
36
      Switch Chips
36
Chapter 5.  Market Data and Trends
39
      Market Size and Vendor Share
39
      10GbE Forecast
41
      Market and Technology Trends
43
           Stateless vs. Stateful Designs
43
           I/O Virtualization
44
           Fabric Convergence
45
           Alternative Blade-Server Architectures
46
Chapter 6.  Broadcom
49
      Company Background
49
      Controller Chips
50
      Conclusions
52
Chapter 7.  Chelsio
55
      Company Background
55
      Controller Chips
55
      NIC Products
56
      Conclusions
58
Chapter 8.  Intel
59
      Company Background
59
      GbE NIC/LOM Solutions
60
      10GbE Controllers and NICs
62
      Conclusions
63
Chapter 9.  Myricom
65
      Company Background
65
      10GbE Controllers
65
      10GbE NICs
67
      Conclusions
67
Chapter 10.  NetEffect
69
      Company Background
69
      10GbE Controllers
69
      NIC Products
70
      Conclusions
72
Chapter 11.  Neterion
73
      Company Background
73
      10GbE NIC Products
74
      Product Roadmap
75
      Conclusions
75
Chapter 12.  NetXen
77
      Company Background
77
      10GbE Controllers
77
      NIC Products
79
      Conclusions
80
Chapter 13.  Other NIC/LOM Vendors
81
      Alacritech
81
      Brocade (Silverback)
82
      Marvell / Sun Microsystems
83
      Mellanox
84
           Company Background
84
           10GbE Controllers and NICs
84
           Conclusions
85
      Nvidia
86
      QLogic
87
           Company Background
87
           iSCSI Controllers and HBAs
88
           Conclusions
89
      ServerEngines
89
           Company Background
89
           10GbE Controllers and NICs
90
           Conclusions
91
      Solarflare
92
           Company Background
92
           10GbE Controllers
92
           Conclusions
93
      Sony
94
      Tehuti
95
Chapter 14.  NIC/LOM Product Comparisons
97
      Comparing 10GbE NICs and Controllers
97
           10GbE Controller Chips
97
           Stateless 10GbE NICs
101
           Stateful 10GbE NICs
103
           Conclusions
104
      Comparing GbE NIC/LOM Chips for Servers
105
Chapter 15.  PCI Express Switch Chips
107
      What is a PCIe Switch Chip?
107
      IDT
108
           Company Background
108
           Products
108
           Conclusions
111
      NextIO
111
      Pericom
112
           Company Background
112
           Products
113
           Conclusions
114
      PLX
114
           Company Background
114
           Products
114
           Conclusions
116
      Comparing PCIe Switch Chips
116
Chapter 16.  Conclusions
121
      Vendor Outlook
121
      Market Directions
124
 
 

Appendix: Further Reading

127
Index
129
   
List of Figures
List of Tables

 

 

 

       
      © 2002-2007 The Linley Group