A group that members more than 390,000 IT professionals from approximately 150 countries proposed to introduce the 40 Gigabit Ethernet technology in July 2006. Carrying the title of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), this group of experts were praised to be the brain behind the superior networking standards of Ethernet that we now know. With their already widely-used networking services, this organization upholds the name of IEEE or The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Currently, we still rely on the 10GbE (10 gigabit Ethernet) technology for lightning speed data transmissions. What the IEEE aims for was to increase this performance for up to 4 and 10 times. After almost a year of contemplation, the project was seen highly favorable, and so a task force was assembled to take charge.

Wondering how a 40 gigabit ethernet can benefit you?

The proposition was named under the 802.3ba standard. And its primary goal was to be able to publish speed standards 40GbE and 100GbE, both greater than the 10GbE. The 40GbE technology is directed to be used by local servers which usually need smaller service capacities when compared with internet servers to which the 100GbE technology was targeted to. However, the 40 gigabit Ethernet should not be mixed up with the known 40gbE solution that works by putting together four 10GbE. The latest 40GbE will be molded into just one individual form, like a 10GbE network technology with wider capabilities.

Having been en route for almost three years now, the project has definitely been productive. Since late 2008 to early 2009, there are already nine working drafts published by the 802.3ba task force. The task force stuck to the primary plan of creating a new and faster means of information exchange without deviating from the base 802.3, the interface being used by 10GbE. And just like its ancestor, the 40 gigabit Ethernet technology boasts being conducive with various physical layer (PHY) standards. By the help of certain modules, the 40GbE can be used to link devices even with varying distances.

It was said that sometime in June 2010, the 40GbE will be formally published. However, because there are existing versions with limited modules, some electronics companies are already performing tests and restricted sales starting September 2009. But, because of availability of module-limited draft versions, a few electronics and communications groups are already conducting tests and sales. Considering all the promising factors from this project, both 40GbE and 100GbE will surely mark a new advancement in our ways of data exchange. If the default 10GbE has already made a blast with its superb speedy performance, it is certainly to be expected that the 40 Gigabit Ethernet technology will blow the minds of a lot more people.

Still need more information on ethernet networks, find out more.