The status of the 10-Gigabit Ethernet standard

This paper discusses the status of the 10-Gigabit Ethernet standard along with its objectives and architecture. 10-Gigabit Ethernet is designed for use in two major applications: firstly, local area networks (LAN) and, secondly, connection to SONET/SDH-based wide area networks (WAN). The use of 10-Gigabit Ethernet in these applications is introduced. The four port types being specified for LAN applications and the three for WAN applications are reviewed.