Ethernet Alliance: Where All Things Ethernet Reside

The Ethernet Alliance is headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, although it began operations in California in 2005. Unlike its predecessors, the Ethernet Alliance is not tied to a specific Ethernet standard but was created to provide ongoing support for and information on Ethernet technologies. The Alliance’s original focus was on the 802 Ethernet standards developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). However, it has since broadened its scope to include technologies that rely on the 802 standards, such as Power over Ethernet (PoE). 

Who is the Ethernet Alliance (EA)?

The alliance is a global, non-profit consortium comprised of member organizations from diverse industries. Its founding members included 18 industry-leading organizations, such as Intel, Dell, and HP. The EA’s mission is to ensure the continued success of Ethernet technologies.

Marketing

The Alliance functions as a conduit between end users of Ethernet technology and the technology standards needed to foster more efficient market adoption of Ethernet and related technologies. It operates as a marketing arm of the standards developed by IEEE to:

• Expand the technology’s reach.
• Support Ethernet development.
• Promote its use in emerging and existing markets.

By becoming the source for “all things Ethernet,” the EA informs the Ethernet ecosystem on new initiatives and standards.

Education

The EA acts as a central repository for Ethernet-related information, maintaining an online library of resources, including blogs, whitepapers, webinars, newsletters, and videos. This library also preserves press releases, industry news, and industry conferences.

Ethernet-related activities are promoted on social media outlets to increase engagement and interest in Ethernet technologies. Member organizations are kept apprised of initiatives concerning IEEE standards and the efforts of the IEEE 802 subcommittees. 

Advancement

The Ethernet Alliance maintains an impartial platform for exchanging ideas and building consensus within the industry. The goal is to encourage idea-sharing and productive discussions to advance Ethernet technology and increase the market’s understanding of its capabilities. The EA’s annual Ethernet Roadmap is an example of such advancement efforts.

What Does the EA 2024 Roadmap Contain?

Since 2005, the EA has released an Ethernet Roadmap to help members of the Ethernet ecosystem navigate the ever-changing and expanding technical landscape. When Ethernet emerged over 50 years ago, no one could have envisioned a world with artificial intelligence or Ethernet technologies used in vehicles. Today’s need for faster transmission rates with higher data volumes would have been hard to imagine in a world where 10Mbps was the standard.

EA’s 2024 Roadmap explores Ethernet’s expansion in the following areas:

• Automotive.
• Automation.
• Enterprise.
• Service Providers.
• Cloud Providers.

The 2024 roadmap adds artificial intelligence and machine learning to the industries impacting Ethernet technologies. The roadmap also includes a Power over Ethernet (PoE) certification program to improve interoperability.

Power Over Ethernet (PoE) Certification Program

As Ethernet standards evolve to support transmission speeds as high as 800 Gbps, PoE devices must retain interoperability to build end-user confidence. To facilitate that effort, the EA now offers a PoE certification program that designates the power class and product type for devices for improved interoperability.

What is PoE?

PoE technology enables electricity to be carried over an Ethernet data cable, powering a device connected to the network without needing a separate power cord or wiring. Initial PoE implementations could support devices needing 30W of power or less. Today, PoE technology can support devices requiring as much as 100W of power.

How Does PoE Work?

An Ethernet cable consists of eight wires arranged in twisted pairs. An electrical current can be transmitted over one of these twisted pairs to power a PoE-compatible device connected to the network. Most installations use a PoE switch or router as the power source. The power source and device must be compatible for this configuration to work. Changes in Ethernet technology to accommodate faster transmission speeds can impact the backward compatibility of PoE devices. Thus, providing a certification program provides end users with a visual indicator of a device’s interoperability capabilities.

How Does the Certification Work?

To obtain the Ethernet Alliance PoE Certification Logo, devices must pass an industry-defined certification test. The trademarked logo can appear on certified products to indicate the device’s interoperability capabilities. The certification program consists of two programs:

• The Gen 1 program certifies Type 1 and Type 2 products that use two-twisted pair wires.
• The Gen 2 program certifies Type 3 and Type 4 products that use two or four twisted pairs.

This initiative helps clarify PoE deployment requirements for the end user and encourages widespread market adoption of high-speed Ethernet.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)

AI and ML ingest large volumes of data to provide real-time results that drive consumer interactions and business decisions. This capability requires Ethernet speeds above 800 Gbps. Data centers and cloud providers are looking toward fiber optic Ethernet to achieve higher transmission rates over longer distances.

AI-driven architectures will require higher-speed interfaces with more connectivity options that optimize power efficiencies. These market demands will fuel the drive toward 1.6T speeds. 

Traditional Roadmap Areas

Traditional areas of influence, such as cloud and service providers, will also drive this expansion toward higher speeds. Large data centers that require high-power computing capabilities will need faster transmission speeds to extract data from a range of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Not only will IoT devices change connectivity requirements, they will also increase the need for edge computing.

Moving computational activities closer to the data source means delivering reliable connectivity across a network. Data centers will no longer be the only hub for computing power. Instead, edge applications will require more power and improved connections for data transmission. Companies will build networks that mix copper and fiber to meet operational demands.

Ethernet technology lies at the heart of Industry 4.0 transformations. Industrial and manufacturing businesses will need improved connectivity for information transparency and distributed decision-making. IEEE standards for time-sensitive networking in a deterministic environment can improve the efficiency of real-time applications and decrease latency. These standards will enable developers to manage message delivery through time-scheduling.

Beyond the 2024 Roadmap

The Ethernet Alliance’s annual roadmap is an indispensable tool for any organization operating in the Ethernet ecosystem. This effort consolidates significant research into an easy-to-understand visual, expanding existing initiatives and highlighting new efforts. The roadmap serves as a gateway to the resources that EA provides. Knowing where to find all things Ethernet can simplify the decision process, especially in such a rapidly changing environment.

Versa Technology offers PoE products and solutions that advance your business. Contact us for more information on how our products can help you realize the full benefit of PoE.