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UNH-IOL First to Offer Energy Efficient Ethernet Testing

Tony Chan | June 30, 2010 | 0 Comments

PRESS RELEASE: Customer Demand for Energy Efficiency Driving Need for Interoperability Testing

DURHAM, N.H. – The University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL), the networking industry’s premier independent third-party proving ground for developing technologies, today announced that the UNH-IOL is the first third-party testing facility that has the capability of testing Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE), or IEEE 802.3az, a new protocol which addresses the growing need for companies and enterprises to be both energy efficient and energy conscious.

The current Ethernet protocol maintains a constant link between devices that allows users instant connectivity, but at the cost of high energy consumption. The new EEE standard enables network devices to enter a low power idle mode when not transmitting data, drastically reducing energy requirements. Any network devices can be woken up and back in normal operation with minimal latency resulting in little or no impact on data transmission. The EEE standard is a key component to other energy efficiency standards such as the EPA’s Energy Star program for server and data center energy efficiency.

The UNH-IOL focuses on testing services for data, telecom and storage networking technology helping to cost effectively speed go-to market time for products. In compliance with the IEEE 802.3az Task Force’s current draft standard, the UNH-IOL’s EEE testing service allows member companies to assess the interoperability of devices before the standard is finalized, providing the opportunity to have market-ready equipment available as soon as the standard is approved.

“The standard is expected to be completed by 2011 and products that support the current draft of the standard are now being released,” said Jeff Lapak, senior engineer for the UNH-IOL. “Energy efficiency is top of mind with our member companies and their customers so the pre-testing process will allow them to be able to deliver new solutions in the quickest possible timeframe.”

In addition to working closely with companies on ensuring product interoperability, the UNH-IOL contributes extensively to technology standards development through participation in a variety of standards bodies and industry forums. The UNH-IOL has been tracking and offering input for the development of the EEE standard since its inception in 2006. In April of 2010, the UNH-IOL hosted the IEEE 802.3az Plugfest, sponsored by the Ethernet Alliance, where vendors demonstrated functional, pre-standard prototype devices. The Ethernet Alliance is a global consortium comprised of system and component vendors, end users, industry experts and university and government professionals who are committed to the continued success and expansion of Ethernet technology.

“Interoperability testing is a vital step in the development of new Ethernet technologies,” said Charlie Lavacchia, president of the Ethernet Alliance. “The UNH-IOL provides a neutral testing ground where companies can test against the current standard of EEE, while utilizing the deep domain expertise of the lab’s staff to gain insight into future growth opportunities.”

The UNH-IOL provides broad-based flexible testing services to cost effectively meet network interoperability requirements for the industry and has been conducting Ethernet testing for over 16 years. By operating one of the world’s most comprehensive test beds, the UNH-IOL is the de facto standard for knowledge and experience in Ethernet testing. Currently, the UNH-IOL offers EEE testing for Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet and will begin offering EEE testing in all flavors of Ethernet by 2011.

About the UNH-IOL

Founded in 1988, the UNH-IOL is one of the networking industry’s premier third-party proving grounds for developing technologies. Approximately 200 companies use the UNH-IOL’s 32,000+ sq. foot facility to extend their development and quality assurance efforts by testing and fine-tuning technologies, protocols and products for multi-vendor interoperability and conformance to standards. For more information, visit http://www.iol.unh.edu.