Cisco was part of a group of vendors that “successfully conducted multi-vendor interoperability testing” of the IEEE’s 802.1 Data Center Bridging (DCB) specifications for a data center-optimized version of Ethernet. The plugfest was sponsored by the Ethernet Alliance’s Ethernet in the Data Center subcommittee, and other participants included Dell, Finisar, Fulcrum Microsystems, Intel, NetApp, QLogic and Spirent Communications.
The plugfest was held May 4 – 8 at the University of New Hampshire Interoperability Lab and focused on interoperability testing of draft standards being developed by the IEEE 802.1 DCB task force. The participants utilized 10GBASE‑SR and 10GBASE-LR optical interfaces.
Testing was completed in two phases. In the first phase, participants completed individual tests of specific DCB features such as Priority-based Flow Control (IEEE P802.1Qbb), Enhanced Transmission Selection (IEEE P802.1Qaz), and DCB Capability Exchange Protocol (IEEE P802.1Qaz).
The second testing phase included building a large DCB-based network and deploying higher layer protocols such as Fibre Channel over Ethernet and iSCSI.
This was the first time multiple vendors had participated in testing products based upon the IEEE 802.1 DCB draft standards, according to the Ethernet Alliance. Participants were able to demonstrate the interoperability of their products and participate in a lossless Ethernet fabric simultaneously on the same network, the Alliance said.
The Alliance said it would publish a white paper on the test results later this month on its Web site. A second plugfest, to be held later this year, will demonstrate interoperability of additional DCB features and will be open to additional industry participation, the Alliance said.
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