Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet to the Desktop: Experiments’ Needs Helge Meinhard / CERN-EP FOCUS 07/10/1999

Introduction Some informal discussion about Fast Ethernet Questions in Cocotime questionnaire about experiments’ needs –For planning purposes only, not to request funding Main target: Desktop computers used in offices –Some remarks about servers, and about experimental zones

Gigabit connectivity … to the desktop: two explicit mentions –“Yes, we foresee a need” –“Only once price tag is the same as for 100 Mb/s cards” Backbone connectivity (for example between star points and computer centre): Gigabit Ethernet essential as soon as Fast Ethernet to the desktop introduced

Fast Ethernet connectivity Almost all Focus experiments expressed some interest or need Reasons given: –Efficient usage of modern desktop systems (fast CPUs, large disks) –Connect local servers, public machines –Remove bottlenecks due to saturated shared Ethernet Only “a few” selected systems will need to be connected to Fast Ethernet initially

Experimental zones Not main target of questionnaire Very different starting points –Standard Ethernet –Fast Ethernet –FDDI (To be) considered case by case in Cocotime discussions

Conclusions Experiments ask for possibility to connect systems in office areas to 100 Mb/s –Typically, a fraction of the systems initially Gigabit Ethernet needed for backbone connections to complement Fast Ethernet to desktop –Not yet seen as requirement for desktops Funding not discussed in Cocotime context Experimental zones treated case by case