10-gigabit Ethernet

10-gigabit Ethernet

The 10 gigabit Ethernet (10GE or 10GbE or 10 GigE) computer networking standard was first published in 2002. It defines a version of Ethernet with a nominal data rate of 10 Gbit/s (billion bits per second)—ten times faster than gigabit Ethernet. Unlike previous Ethernet standards, 10 gigabit Ethernet defines only full duplex point to point links which are generally connected by network switches. Half duplex operation and hubs do not exist in 10GbE.

The 10 gigabit Ethernet standard encompasses a number of different physical layer (PHY) standards. A networking device may support different PHY types through pluggable PHY modules, such as those based on SFP+. Over time, market forces will determine the most popular 10GE PHY types.

At the time that the 10 gigabit Ethernet standard was developed, interest in 10GbE as a wide area network (WAN) transport led to the introduction of a WAN PHY for 10GbE. This operates at a slightly slower data-rate than the local area network (LAN) PHY and adds some extra encapsulation. Both share the same physical medium-dependent sublayers so can use the same optics.

In 2007, one million 10GbE ports were shipped, in 2009 two million ports were shipped, and in 2010 over three million ports were shipped.