Ramifications of the all-100Gb Ethernet network. In case you haven’t seen the story, Berkeley lab is getting $62 million in order to build the world’s fastest all-100Gb Ethernet network to connect Department of Energy on the Energy Sciences Network (ESNet).I’m just speculating and could be wrong, but here are a few implications I see coming out of this development.1. 10Gb Ethernet becomes a stepping stone technology. There is massive investment and growth in 10Gb Ethernet switching equipment but this gear may be replaced quickly in the next few years with higher capacity stuff. Smart CIOs will make sure to work with vendors who offer seamless upgrade paths for 10Gb equipment.2. 40Gb Ethernet may be a road to nowhere. I have a hunch that we may simply skip 40Gb and move directly to 100Gb. Vendors and network engineers should follow R&D activities and plan accordingly.3. More pressure on other network transports. Common wisdom suggests that Ethernet will ultimately replace Fibre Channel and Infiniband. I have to believe that 100GbE adds fuel to this fire.4. Niche opportunities at the high end of the market. Somehow we will still have to filter and process 100GbE traffic. Smart network processor designers, network security vendors, and application networking innovators will get out in front of this trend.5. More pressure on Cisco. Cisco’s market dominance is always threatened by technology transitions. A shift to 100GbE opens the door again for innovative challengers like Brocade, Extreme Networks, and Juniper Networks. Yeah, I know it is really really early in the game but it is fun to think about future ramifications. Heck, that’s what I do for a living. Related content analysis 5 things security pros want from XDR platforms New research shows that while extended detection and response (XDR) remains a nebulous topic, security pros know what they want from an XDR platform. By Jon Oltsik Jul 07, 2022 3 mins Intrusion Detection Software Incident Response opinion Bye-bye best-of-breed? ESG research finds that organizations are increasingly integrating security technologies and purchasing multi-product security platforms, changing the industry in the process. By Jon Oltsik Jun 14, 2022 4 mins Security Software opinion SOC modernization: 8 key considerations Organizations need SOC transformation for security efficacy and operational efficiency. Technology vendors should come to this year’s RSA Conference with clear messages and plans, not industry hyperbole. By Jon Oltsik Apr 27, 2022 6 mins RSA Conference Security Operations Center opinion 5 ways to improve security hygiene and posture management Security professionals suggest continuous controls validation, process automation, and integrating security and IT technologies. By Jon Oltsik Apr 05, 2022 4 mins Security Practices Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe