1. Background on Optical Gigabit Ethernet
ECE 4006A
October 18, 2001
Ashley Lee and Mashaun Rosemond

2. Project and Purpose Project Purpose
Make Cost Effective Improvements to Gigabit Ethernet Card
Single Ended versus Differential
Purpose
Less money, fast data rates
Reduced error rates

3. Why is project feasible?
Fiber-optic communications is wave of future
Too costly to implement currently (to residential areas)
media expensive
technology expensive
One way to reduce cost is make transceiver module less expensive

4. Driving Force Behind Gigabit Ethernet
VoIP and Multimedia
Move to WAN Networks
Need for Increased Performance while
maintaining cost effectiveness
Businesses with Servers

5. Gigabit Ethernet Standard
Forming IEEE 802.3z
Gigabit Ethernet Standard
Combining IEEE with
ANSI X3T11 FibreChannel
IEEE Frame Format
Compatibility with Ethernet and
Fast Ethernet
New Physical Interface Technology

6. Physical Standards of Gigabit Ethernet

7. Goals Maintain low, inexpensive cost
Improve upon existing single-ended implementation by applying opto-modules to boards with differential capabilities
Make sure new board/opto-module interface with differential capabilities on network card properly

8. Project Plan Understand previous single-ended implementation
Order parts
Build new modules
Test new modules to verify improved functionality
Reconnect modules to network card and evaluate performance