Things You Must Know: 200G vs. 400G Ethernet in Data Centers

With the rise of high data rate applications such as 5G and cloud computing, 200G and 400G Ethernet are getting much attention in data centers. In most cases, 400G Ethernet is more competitive than 200G Ethernet with regards to the applications in data centers. In this post, we are about to reveal how 400G Ethernet outperforms 200G Ethernet in several aspects.

400G Ethernet vs 200G Ethernet: More Comprehensive Standardization

During the evolution of the IEEE protocol standard, the 200G standard was issued later than the 400G standard. The 400G standard was first proposed in 2013 by IEEE 802.3 Working Group and was approved in 2017 with IEEE 802.3bs 400G Ethernet standard. While the 200G standard was proposed and approved in 2015 and 2018 respectively. And the 200G single-mode specification is generally based on the 400G single-mode specification but halved the 400G one. With the fast upgrades of 400G technology and its products due to market needs, the 400G standard is more comprehensive and maturer than that of 200G.

Common Use of 100G Server Promotes More 400G Ethernet Applications

Network switch speed is always driven by server uplink speed. No matter in the past or at present, one-to-four structure is often used to connect switches and servers to increase the port density of switches. And this structure is likely to be adopted in the future as well. Then, how to choose between the 200G Ethernet and 400G Ethernet mainly depends on the server we use.

How to Connect Servers in Data Centers.jpg

According to Crehan research and forecast, the momentum of 100G servers surpassed that of 50G servers since 2020. That means, most network operators are likely to use 100G server connection rather than 50G. And 100G servers would become the mainstream according to the trends during 2020-2023. In other words, one could skip 200G and choose 400G directly with 100G server deployed.

50G vs 100G Server Adoption Rates.jpg

Optical Transceiver Market Drives 400G Ethernet

There are two main factors that push 400G Ethernet more popular than 200G Ethernet in the optical transceiver market. One is the module supply, another is the cost.

400G Optical Transceivers Gain More Market Supplies and Acceptance

Normally, the early adoption of 400G is to support the rise of 200G long-haul for aggressive DCI network builds. It makes 400G possible in metro networks and supports 3x the distance for 200G wavelengths. WIth further development, 400G transceivers are more favorable among manufacturers. Many suppliers pay more attention to 400G Ethernet rather than 200G. For example, Senko’s new CS connector is specifically designed for 400G data center optimization. Actually, all things have reasons. Even if the total cost of 200G transceiver and 400G transceiver is the same, the cost and power consumption per bit of 400G transceiver is half of the 200G’s because of the doubled bandwidth of 400G. More importantly, the total revenue data among 100G, 200G and 400G shows that 400G is far beyond 200G in the whole market.

Total Revenue for 100G 200G and 400G Transceivers.jpg

According to shipment data of the top 8 suppliers gathered by Omdia, the 400G transceiver market is more prosperous than that of 200G. There are more options for users in 400G deployment. Although the top 8 suppliers all provide 200G and 400G transceivers, 200G transceivers only offer 100m SR4 and 2km FR4 while 400G transceivers could offer more options like SR8 100mDR4 500mFR4 2kmLR4 10km, and ER8 40km, etc. In addition, 400G products, such as 400G DAC and 400G DAC breakout cables and solutions are maturer and more perfect than 200G because of their earlier release.

Supplier SupportFinisarInnolightFITLumentumAccelinkSource PhotonicsAOIHisense
200G SR4      
200G FR4    
400G SR8
400G SR4.2     
400G DR4
400G FR4
400G ZR       

400G Optical Modules Support More Applications With Fewer Cost

Compared to 200G transceivers, 400G transceivers could support more applications including DCI and 200G applications. And they can double the traffic carrying capacity between applications than 100G/200G solutions. With 400G solutions, fewer transponders will be needed, resulting in less transportation and operating costs. This will make the 400G market more lively in return.

400G Ethernet Is more Suitable for Future Network Upgrades

The 200G optical modules will include two main form factors, namely QSFP-DD and CFP2. The 400G optical transceivers will mainly include QSFP-DD and OSFP packages. Since the OSFP is expected to offer a better path to 800G and higher transmission rates, 400G transceiver is more suitable and convenient for future network migration.

Conclusion

From the current analysis and evidence above, 400G Ethernet is more competitive than 200G Ethernet in Ethernet standardization, 100G server connection, optical transceiver market and future network upgrades. There is no need to hesitate between 200G Ethernet and 400G Ethernet. Choosing 400G Ethernet and products is a wise decision not only for the current but for the long-term future.

Article Source

https://community.fs.com/blog/200g-vs-400g-ethernet.html

Related Articles

https://community.fs.com/blog/optical-transceiver-market-200g-400g.html

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MPLS Network: How Does It Work?

The entire network today has expanded and there emerge faster Ethernet switch like gigabit Ethernet switch and even 10gb switch which provide us with higher information switching speed. However fast they can forward the data packets, they still undergo complicated procedures. Now there is a way to simplify the data forwarding while maintaining the high forwarding speed. That is the MPLS network.

What Is MPLS Network?

MPLS stands for Multi-Protocol Label Switching. It is a system for fast packet switching and routing that provides the ability to target, route, forward, and exchange network traffic. In most cases, MPLS is regarded operating at Layer 2.5 as it enables data packets to be forwarded at layer 2 rather than layer 3. MPLS is a packet-labeling technique that can map IP addresses to simple fixed-length labels for different packet forwarding and packet switching techniques. MPLS can provide applications including VPNs (Virtual Private Networks), traffic engineering (TE) and Quality of Service (QoS). So we know that MPLS is a packet-labeling technique that prioritizes data, but how does it actually work?

How Does the MPLS Network Work?

In MPLS network, packets are directed through the network based on an assigned label. People tag some packets with certain markings. We can compare the packet to the shipping crate that ships something between two locations. If at every stop, the shipping company needs to open the box to figure out what it is and where it’s going to, it will cost a lot of time and energy. Now if we put the label outside indicating where the packet goes from and to, then whatever shipping company see it will know how to deal with it without opening it.

how MPLS network work 1.0

The basic component of MPLS network is label switching router (LSR). An ingress router with MPLS will label data packets (mail packages) on entry to the network (post office), so routers (mail workers) know exactly where the data is going to without having to open the package again and again. The transit router in the MPLS domain transmits the packet to the egress LER according to the label along the label switching path (LSP) consisting of a series of LSRs. Finally, the egress router that resides at the exit is responsible for stripping the label from the packet and forward it to the destination. In a word, transit router switch the data packet according to the attached label, while egress and ingress routers work for the transformation between MPLS and IP technology.

Advantages of MPLS Network

Here, some people may say “MPLS is indeed a good thing, but why should I bother to change to it as my current network runs well?”. This part will tell the advantage of using MPLS network.

First, regarding its cost, it is a cost-effective solution. Multiprotocol Layer Switching (MPLS) is an extremely scalable mechanism for high performance telecommunication networks. It allows for inter-connectivity growth of your network with minimal addition of hardware. An MPLS network uses communications via a cloud based network with each node connecting to the network providers MPLS cloud, which allows for adding new remote connections without the requirements of adding hardware at your primary site.

Second, let’s see its performance. It provides alternative network paths to improve up-time and reduce network congestion. It also allows for multiple traffic types to traverse the network, thus improving bandwidth utilization. It can also improve end user experience by allowing multiple classes of services to different types of traffic such as VOIP.

Third, one of the most notable benefits of MPLS is that it is applicable to any network layer protocol. It supports transport over Internet Protocol (IP), Ethernet, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) and frame relay; any of these protocols can be used to create an LSP.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, MPLS was originally put forward to improve forwarding speed. It decreases the forwarding overhead on the core routers. To make full use of it, you can go to the website www.fs.com and consult our experts. FS not only provides top-notch Ethernet switch but also first-class solutions.

D-Ring Cable Manager for Horizontal Cable Management

The horizontal cable management solutions are springing up one after another as is expected. After the the explanation of versatile fiber optic patch panel, punch down patch panel, upgraded fiber enclosure, and various cable managers such as brush strip cable manager, finger duct cable manager, horizontal and vertical manager, we now focus our eyes on the new horizontal cable manager with D-rings.

The Structure of D-ring Horizontal Cable Management Tool

The name “D-ring” stems from its design that a ring goes in “D” frame. The five metal D-rings stand vertically on the cable management panel in a good order. Without complicated design, it won’t add unnecessary trouble in the cabling procedure or additional energy for you to identify each gadgets. For 1U cable management, we have 1U horizontal cable management with D-rings, and 2U horizontal cable manager with D-rings for 2U cable management.

D-ring cable management tool

The Advantage of D-ring Horizontal Cable Management Tool

Why is the D-ring horizontal cable manager standing out among all those cable managers? Why you want choose it? Look here.

For those who want neat and clean cable management, it perfectly caters to their need as it uses a D-ring method of cable management to run cables vertically along the side of your rack, neatly guiding them between equipment that’s mounted at different heights. This provides a tidy and well-organized way to run cables from devices mounted toward the bottom of your rack to other devices mounted near the top, without leaving a mess of cables hanging in between.

For those who long for easy installation and effortless maintenance, this D-ring cable manager can satisfy them because having neatly organized and routed cables not only improves the appearance and accessibility of your rack, it also makes it easier for you to install, access and maintain rack components. As a consequence, we can see that it improves the appearance and accessibility of your rack. That’s why we want to have it.

How to Arrange Horizontal Cable Management with D-ring Cable Manager

The user-friendly design makes it easy to use by customers and even novices. With screws and installing tools, you can attach this device onto server rack or cabinet. In the video, the cable managers are sitting below the switch. When the fiber cables on the switch are all on their position, we can now come to the cable management step. The first 4 fiber cables pass through the first ring and go through the second ring together with another 4 cables and so on. A single horizontal cable manager with D-rings can manage up to 70 patch cables. Here if you use cable ties to strap the cable, it will be the icing on the cake.

If you keep wondering where your power cords and video cables go in your 24 port patch panel, then our horizontal cable management panel with metal D-rings to provide stability so each cable can make a clean entry and exit. Make your patch panel look organized and professional. FS.COM horizontal cable management solutions provide data center managers and IT professionals with a variety of options.

Assist of Patch Panel—Innovative Horizontal Cable Manager with Brush Strip

The hot-debated topic—cable management, is a critical part when planing a data center. Failure in cable management will expose cable to high fatigue rates, hinder people to identify cables or even bring difficulties when expanding or upgrading equipment. To meet the management needs, tools like patch panel, cable managers, and cable rings are brought in to life. Cable manager, the subject of the article, comes in varied types, among which I’d like to introduce the upgraded one—1U brush strip horizontal cable manager designed for server racks.

Brief Introduction of the Patch Panel Assistant

The patch panel is partly a cable manager, but it also has other functions. With the brush strip horizontal cable manager, the cable management can be perfectly maintained. The new cable manager is made of refined metal and comes in different heights like 1U and 2U. Compared with original 1U plastic single sided horizontal cable manager with finger duct, it is a flat panel greatly saving the steel. The panel is designed to be mounted on any 19in EIA style rack or cabinet and features built-in brush that allows passage of up to 25 cables while blocking airflow.

brush strip cable manager

What Are the Advantages of the New Type of Cable Manager?

Compared with ordinary cable manager with a certain number of ports, the brush strip cable manager can allow for relatively flexible cable management, and the cables that come from or to patch panels is less likely to be rubbed when passing through the brush. What’s more, it can minimize the risk of unnecessary bending or subject cables to heat sources or sharp edges, thus enabling the cables to live longer.

It comes with high-density nylon brush separating and organizing cables that increases overall air flow within your network cabinet while improves the efficiency of your cooling system by covering unused rack space. The sturdy steel structure and black powder coat finish fights presents durability, resists corrosion, and keeps your rack looking smooth and professional.

The Way It Helps With Patch Panel

Using four screws, it can be installed above or below the rack patch panel, and the two can coordinate seamlessly to present neat cabling. Just as the below video shows, brush strip panel is used to allow the passage of patch leads from the rear of the cabinet and then the patch cables are connected to the slots on the patch panel. They are installed within a data rack to neatly draw cables away from equipment. This type of management is typically slotted directly in front of equipment. The slots are masked with ‘brush’ strips which allow cables to pass through while presenting a tidy appearance and avoiding the cables dropping back into the rack.

Conclusion

1U brush strip horizontal cable manager can organize cables while keeping dust and dirt out of the rack. FS.COM produces a wide variety of cable management accessories specially designed for use in various cabinet and enclosure systems. These accessories include everything from vertical and horizontal cable managers, cable rings, and Ethernet patch panel to more easily route cables through the cabinet and preserve signal strength and data transmission. All these devices enable you to identify and track cables easily, while maintaining the freedom to remove or change cables with ease whenever necessary. FS.COM are always here for your suggestions and comments.

Shortcuts to Install Your FHD Wall Mount Enclosure

As a space-saving fiber optic enclosure, the wall mount enclosure is popular with people around the globe. Except FHX fiber enclosure, FHD fiber enclosure is also our signature product to provide the essential interface between multiple fiber cables and optical equipment installed on the customer’s premises. To install it on the wall and to place the accessories in it may be a puzzle for some people. In the following part, I will make a illustrate to help you avoid the unnecessary triviality.

Two Ways to Load the FHD Wall Mount Enclosure

FHD wall mount fiber patch panel comes with two separate compartments with two steel doors. As shown below, the left side is used for accommodating outside plant cables entering the building, pigtails and pigtail splices. Whereas the right side is designed for internal cable assembly networking that connected by fiber adapters or fiber optic cassettes.

Come With Fiber Adapter Panel

According to its capacity, the wall mount fiber enclosure can accomodate two or four adapter panels. Start with a blank enclosure, after inserting the adapter panels, we may need spools ready on its place to manage the fiber slack. Take out both the covers on the slots of the adapter panels and the cables, and then couple them. Mark the slacks with number and strip them into a grommet for better protection. Use a strain relief brackets outside the enclosure to protect the cable.

with adapter panel

Come With Fiber Optic Cassette

Take FHD MTP-LC cassette an example, the front side of it, 12 or 24 fiber connects are used to match with with LC or SC patch cables, while the rear side of it is to interconnect MTP backbone cabling. Since there are not many cables and yet enough space, the spools aren’t used here.

with fiber cassette

Hold up FHD Wall Mount Enclosure against the Wall

The wall mount enclosure can be fixed quickly and easily to the wall using four screws.There are four key slots on the back of the enclosure for wall mounting. Make sure the size of the wall is large enough to hold the entire enclosure. And plan properly the optimum height, otherwise the equipment will be lower that people will bump on it when passing by or it will be too high that is beyond the users reach to complete the cabling.

Conclusion

Fiber optic adapters are the critical part of fiber enclosure to accept the various fiber optic connectors. And MTP fiber optic cassettes are pre-terminated and pre-tested enclosed units. Whichever you choose is reasonable. In addition, the accessories mentioned above will be offered freely by FS.COM. And we have produced a short video about wall mount enclosure installation for your reference. Any question or suggestion form our esteemed customers will be sincerely considered. We really hope to grow better and be your best partner alongside you.