The next step in Data Center Interconnect: from Fibre Channel to Ethernet via WDM

Speeds of 40 Gb/s and 100 Gb/s 

Between data centers, multiple connections are always realized per storage environment or server farm due to redundancy considerations. Using WDM technology, it is possible to send multiple signals or colors at different wavelengths over one fiber optic connection. This eliminates the need for a separate line for each connection, thereby significantly reducing complexity and costs. At the same time, WDM offers the possibility of transporting terabits of data over the same fiber optic pair. Eurofiber offers WDM on its nationwide fiber-optic network, with speeds of up to and including 100 Gb/s per Ethernet connection and the possibility of encrypting data in the optical layer (‘WDM Encrypted’).

‘Ethernet has matured for Storage applications’ 

‘WDM is ideal for organizations that want to keep the transport of sensitive business data and applications off the regular Internet,’ says Rudi de Visser. ‘It is also the digital infrastructure of choice for replicating data between two data centers, for example, or for connecting storage environments.’ It is precisely in these two applications that he sees organizations switching from traditional Fibre Channel connections to connections based on the Ethernet protocol. ‘Ethernet has become a mature protocol within WAN environments, also with WDM as the underlying digital infrastructure. This is true for both reliability and performance.’

More cost-effective 

Ethernet over WDM has another important advantage, notes De Visser. ‘An advantage that should not be underestimated is the fact that organizations gain in cost efficiency with Ethernet over WDM when it comes to purchasing the necessary hardware and software. In short, it is cheaper than Fibre Channel without sacrificing reliability or performance. And that is a very attractive proposition.’