Re: [STDS-802-3-400G] New 50G/100G/200G SG - Potential Impact on 802.3bs?

[Brad Booth <bbooth@xxxxxxxx>]

John, thank you for preparing the data and for bringing it forward.

To my fellow task force participants, I'm replying to John's email (and not the follow-on discussions), because I'd like to return to the information John provided.

I humbly do not believe it is in the industry's best interest for the 100G and 200G effort to be rolled into 802.3bs. While there may be the ability to tune existing proposals to optimize them for 100G and 200G specifications, we have already observed that some of our colleagues would rightly like to challenge those positions; whereas, others rightly counter that some customers like to have a migration path. These discussions need to occur, and that is the goal of the study group to consider these types of things. We should be honest with ourselves though; even if we reused existing proposals, the addition of 100G and 200G will impact the schedule of 802.3bs.

We have already delayed 802.3bs' targeted ratification date once, and that delay was announced to the industry not that long ago. Are we truly prepared to go back to the industry and tell them we're going to delay 400G again? Is anyone getting tired of constantly revising PARs? Are we instilling any confidence with the industry that we can do the necessary projects in a timely fashion?

Yes, the market dynamics are changing quickly in our industry. Adding delay to already existing projects doesn't create a sense of responsiveness.

While 100G and 200G may have technical similarities to 400G which creates the sense that combining would be good from a project management point of view, the market needs for those speeds may be different. There is a market that sees a more immediate need for 400G. That market already has the ability to do 100G and 200G (coherent) today, and they are willing to wait for new variants of 100G and 200G. What they do not have is 400G. Do we really want to make them continue to wait?

Thanks,

Brad

On Thu, Dec 3, 2015 at 6:00 AM, John D'Ambrosia <jdambrosia@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Dear Task Force Participants,

This email is to make sure that everyone is aware of conversations happening in the 50/100/200G Study Group Phone Conference that happened yesterday – Dec 2.  There has been discussion at how the multi-lane 100G/200G solutions might be rolled into the 802.3bs project.  To that end – I gave a presentation at the conference call that looked at potential modifications / additions to our PAR / CSD.  See http://www.ieee802.org/3/50G/public/adhoc/archive/dambrosia_120215_50GE_NGOATH_adhoc_v2.pdf

 

I encourage everyone to review this presentation and consider the findings on the last few pages.  Individuals may wish to participate in the upcoming 50/100/200G ad hoc calls that Mr. Nowell has planned.  For more information see http://www.ieee802.org/3/50G/public/adhoc/index.html.

 

I will be working on the meeting announcement for the January interim, and anticipate that there will be a joint session of our Task Force with the Study Groups to further consider these implications.

 

Regards,

 

John D’Ambrosia

Chair, IEEE P802.3bs 400GbE Task Force