Tutorial: how optical Ethernet is disrupting the network marketplace: understanding the causes, trends, and implications

Ethernet continues to be the disruptive networking technology. Jonathan Thatcher, chair of the IEEE P802.3ae, 10 Gigabit Ethernet Task Force, will cover Ethernet, with a focus on the future of this disruptive technology. Mr. Thatcher will briefly review the history of networking and Ethernet, and discuss how the changes occurring in the networking space may require that we rethink traditional, area-based terms for various network topologies. He will discuss the new markets and opportunities Ethernet creates. A technical update on Ethernet standards, including Gigabit, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, and Ethernet First Mile will also be given.