Feb.99 Nordgren,Fieb & Jacquemin see the link DWDM and FC - Huge Potential Here. Looking back to early 99, ATM was mentioned all the time, now you rarely see ATM mentioned. DWDM and FC are starting to be mentioned everywhere. Congratulations to Douglas, J. & Walter for being the first to comment here, on this. I have always believed in the potential of these two technologies dominating the Internet. Owning Osicom and Harmonic since around 1996/97, both DWDM suppliers, I hoped DWDM and FC would take the lead someday. We are getting closer to taking over the Internet.
siliconinvestor.com
To: Larry Newman who wrote (20610) From: J Fieb Saturday, Feb 6, 1999 7:14 AM ET Respond to Post # 20611 of 27681
WDM-FC? Open Interfaces Pursued For SAN (02/04/99, 8:09 p.m. ET) By Loring Wirbel, EE Times
Promoters of storage area networks (SANs) made two independent efforts this week for open interfaces operating at several layers in the SAN protocol stack.
"In fact,with the advent of wave-division multiplexing on Fibre Channel, proposed as a vehicle to bring public-network carriers into SAN management, the alliances have to consider scaling management tools to service providers. Greg Beyer, CEO of Fibre Channel switching specialist Brocade Communications, said that "it doesn't require a huge leap of faith" to see switched Fibre Channel meshes being connected over public backbones. SAN management as a carrier service will be feasible given updates in routing algorithms and restoration concepts, he said, but the business model needs to develop further before Brocade or other companies are likely to offer management tools for carriers."
To: J Fieb who wrote (20611) From: Walter Jacquemin Saturday, Feb 6, 1999 9:04 AM ET Respond to Post # 20612 of 27681
JFieb: Fascinating find! Now if I could just translate it to English.... It sounds like progress is being made to standardize the software for SAN management. Everyone seems to be working together. DWDM would be a natural way to enlarge the pipes.
When the Brocade CEO talks about public carriers and service providers involved with SAN management and SWITCHED FC webs over public backbones, he is talking about MCI/Worldcom, ATT, et al. Those are HUGE accounts and would require HUGE, fault-tolerant switches such as made by Lucent, Ascend, Cisco, Nortel. None of these big boys are in to FC at this time, as far as I know. The future is going to be very interesting for FC switch makers....... IMHO wj
To: Louie Liu who wrote (20613) From: Douglas Nordgren Saturday, Feb 6, 1999 3:58 PM ET Respond to Post # 20615 of 27681
Re WDM and FC Backbone Louie, DWDM is cost effective primarily at long distance data hauling, and there have been some efforts made to accomodate the technology for short haul networks, (WANs & MANs). Fibre Channel is coming under scrutiny as a possible cost effective DWDM extension for the short haul data/voice trunks over fiber. I hope that helps?
Douglas
To: Douglas Nordgren who wrote (20623) From: Douglas Nordgren Sunday, Feb 7, 1999 5:23 PM ET Respond to Post # 20629 of 27681
More on FC & DWDM Unclear on the concept of FC and DWDM interconnects?
Fibre Channel can operate as a data transport mechanism for multiple Upper Level Protocols (ULP), with mappings defined for IP, SCSI, HIPPI, ESCON and FICON, and ATM-AAL5 mapping. A single fibre channel port can execute simultaneous transmissions of ULPs (e.g. ATM, HIPPI,& IP) through the same port.
SONET, HIPPI, and ATM are the most likely ULPs for data transport over DWDM fiber. A Fibre Channel switched IP SAN/LAN/WAN/MAN can port to an ATM or HIPPI DWDM trunk. If it can be done, it will be done, eventually.
Douglas
P.S. George, wish we could get royalties for discovering what was under our noses all along. <g>
To: Douglas Nordgren who wrote (20629) From: J Fieb Sunday, Feb 7, 1999 6:13 PM ET Respond to Post # 20632 of 27681
Re; Fibre Channel can operate as a data transport mechanism for multiple Upper Level Protocols (ULP), with mappings defined for IP, SCSI, HIPPI, ESCON and FICON, and ATM-AAL5 mapping. A single fibre channel port can execute simultaneous transmissions of ULPs (e.g. ATM, HIPPI,& IP) through the same port. Makes FC sound like the Swiss Army Knife for digital data transport and also explains what 3COM, and CSCO might see in FC. Something for everyone. Thanks. But if the frame size is so big and roomy in FC and can carry more data than those shrimpy ATM frames why don't they just designate a national backbone for FC over DWDM and forget the ATM, HIPPI, IP etc? Is it possible? Thanks in advance.
To: J Fieb who wrote (20632) From: Douglas Nordgren Sunday, Feb 7, 1999 6:21 PM ET Respond to Post # 20633 of 27681
Re FC National Backbone, why not? Distance limitations, remember, current max is 10k. But that is changing as we speak. Stay tuned.
Douglas
To: Greg Hull who wrote (20638) From: Greg Hull Monday, Feb 8, 1999 3:02 PM ET Respond to Post # 20656 of 27681
An FC/WDM link courtesy of Frank Coluccio on the Silk Road thread: lumenon.com
<<Who We Are Lumenon Corporate Background Synopsis: Lumenon specializes in a revolutionary kind of Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) component in the form of a compact photonic chip on silicon. Indeed, the Company has created a new platform technology for a broad range of innovative integrated optics components that allow it to sell into a variety of applications. These include long-haul and short-haul telecommunications, desk-top local area networks (LANs), multi-media LAN, Intelligent Home Network, as well as fiber channel.>>
Joe |