The University of New Hampshire InterOperability Lab (UNH-IOL), famous for it’s voice-over-IP, IMS and network technology plugfests and other proving-ground work, this week became the first third-party testing facility for Energy Efficient Ethernet.
EEE is a new protocol known as IEEE 802.3az that enables companies and enterprises to be both energy efficient and energy conscious. The UNH-IOL has built upon its 16 years of Ethernet testing and is now offering EEE testing for Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet and will begin offering EEE testing in all flavors of Ethernet by 2011.
The always-on nature of Ethernet connectivity is one of its primary features, but it comes 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. This dramatically reduces energy requirements and allows a device wake up will little or no impact on data transmission. The protocol also 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’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."
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."
