[c-nsp] When will SFP+ 10GBase-T optics be available?

[Eric Rosenberry]

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On Fri, Apr 20, 2012 at 1:08 AM, Phil Mayers <p.mayers at imperial.ac.uk>wrote:

> On 04/19/2012 11:57 PM, Eric Rosenberry wrote:
>
>> I have hosts and storage arrays arriving that are coming with 10GBase-T
>> ports onboard (and no SFP+ ports).  This makes it very hard to hook to my
>> SFP+ *only* switches.  ;-)
>>
>
> Really? Hmm. Interesting - what equipment is this?
>

Dell MD 3620i storage arrays.  Don't ask me why they made the decision to
be *only* 10GBase-T.  I suspect it may have something to do with their
target audience not being comfortable with deploying fiber?

Newly launched Dell 720 series mainline servers with the Intel 10 gig NIC.

Newly launched Supermicro platforms with 10GBase-T Intel controllers
onboard.

Note that as others I think eluded to on the list, it is the Intel X540
controller that both of these two sever platforms are using:
http://newsroom.intel.com/community/intel_newsroom/blog/2012/03/06/chip-shot-intel-ethernet-controller-x540-brings-10gbe-to-the-masses

I think this controller has kicked off the first serious wave of servers
coming with 10GBase-T.


> There does not seem to be a (genuine, unbiased) consensus about whether
> 10GbaseT or SFP+ is going to "win out" for host connectivity. We have
> dithered on this, but have moved in the direction of SFP+ on the basis that
> server manufacturers seem to be shipping SFP+ 10G kit, and the cheap 1U ToR
> switches are largely SFP+


My personal opinion is that 10 gig to the majority of servers will only
become popular once it is in a 10GBase-T format.  Fiber is a pain, and
expensive (especially including the optics).  Twinax is cost effective, but
fragile and compatibility has sometimes been an issue.  Not to mention that
it sucks that it only comes in a handful of pre-made lengths (CAT6a is much
more widely available).  I see Twinax as a bridging technology until
10GBase-T is cost effective, low power, and bulletproof in implementation.

-Eric

-- 
*Eric Rosenberry*
Sr. Infrastructure Architect // Chief Bit Plumber