100 Gigabit Ethernet network - your tax dollars at work

The Department of Energy this week got a big chunk of money to build the world’s fastest computer network – and the timing of the windfall could not have been better.

My colleague Michael Cooney has all the details of the networking plans of the DoE’s ESnet, which is getting $62 million to build a 100Gbps Ethernet network to connect the DoE’s supercomputer centers. The money is coming from the Advanced Networking Initiative of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, with the intention of keeping the U.S. competitive in science and technology (though Russia might argue that we’re plenty competitive on the supercomputing front).

The thing is, the DoE had been planning the network all along. Back in early December, before there was a stimulus plan, ESnet was working with Internet2 and others on a 100 Gigabit Ethernet testbed, with the intention of building an operational network soon thereafter. 

Now, the DoE has money behind the plan – perhaps its network implementation has been speeded up a bit. The network is being implemented before a standard is in place, it’s worth noting. So much for delaying upgrades during a recession.

Particular providers for this new network have not yet been named, but in December, Level 3 Communications, Infinera and Juniper Networks were the ones working closely with Internet2 and ESnet to set up the 100Gbps network. Will they get the contract?

Interestingly, the DoE is saying that what it really wants is a terabit network, which experts say is in sight, though still a ways away. Also interesting: The DoE says that one of the main arguments for developing 100G networks is that it drives down the price of 10G and 1G for the rest of us.

Jeff Caruso is site editor at Network World.