{"id":74245,"date":"2015-04-16T21:20:32","date_gmt":"2015-04-17T01:20:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rbachnet.wwwmi3-ss40.a2hosted.com\/index.php\/"},"modified":"2021-07-12T21:28:40","modified_gmt":"2021-07-13T01:28:40","slug":"wi-fi-charges-up-ethernet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/wi-fi-charges-up-ethernet\/","title":{"rendered":"Wi-Fi Charges Up Ethernet"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Wi-Fi<\/a>Information Technology prognosticators\u00a0Gartner<\/a> (IT<\/a>)\u00a0predicts that 40% of enterprises <\/strong>will use Wi-Fi<\/a> as the default connection for mobile and non-mobile devices by 2018\u00a0according<\/a>\u00a0to Fred Donovan at FierceMobileIT<\/em><\/a>. The prediction<\/a> says that typically fixed location devices like; desktops, desk phones, projectors, and conference rooms will use Wi-Fi as their primary connection<\/strong> replacing Ethernet.<\/p>\n

\"Wi-FI<\/a>Gartner says Wi-Fi is facilitating BYOD<\/strong>. The enterprise Wi-Fi network<\/a> now allows workers to choose any device and move anywhere in the workplace. Gartner argues that the introduction of security measures like\u00a0802.1X<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0augmented with\u00a0Advanced Encryption Standard<\/a> (AES<\/strong>) encryption has lessened IT’s worry about security breaches involving the Wi-Fi infrastructure. Ken Dulaney<\/a>, V.P.\u00a0and distinguished analyst at Gartner said;<\/p>\n

Ethernet cabling has been the mainstay of business workspace connectivity since the beginning of networking. However, as smartphones, laptops, tablets, and other consumer devices have multiplied, the consumer space has largely converted to a wireless-first world<\/em><\/p>\n

Facilitating BYOD<\/h3>\n

As the first connection to the enterprise infrastructure, Wi-Fi brings workers the ability to choose any device and move anywhere<\/strong> without worry. VP Dulaney continued;<\/p>\n

\"WI-FI<\/a>As bring your own device (BYOD) has increased in many organizations, the collision of the business and consumer worlds has changed workers’ demands<\/em><\/p>\n

Furthermore, cabling systems or even peer-to-peer (P2P) wireless solutions using technologies that offer cable replacement have had to deal with a variety of connectors challenges, such as USB and micro-USB<\/a>, as video systems move beyond Video Graphics Array<\/a> (VGA). The market research firm also argues that MACD costs will decrease.<\/p>\n

\"MACD<\/a>Additions, moves, and changes are costly inconveniences that waste time for enterprise IT organizations. A move can sometimes involve cabling changes that can cost as much as $1,000 … With Wi-Fi printers, desktops, and other devices, all that is required is a cable to the power source, leaving workers free to move themselves making reconfigurations of offices easier.<\/em><\/p>\n

Because of the many benefits of Wi-FI, Gartner VP Dulaney predicts firms are going to change how they connect;<\/p>\n

we expect many organizations to shift to a wireless-by-default and a wired-by-exception model.<\/em><\/p>\n

New Ethernet specifications<\/h3>\n

In order to deal with the new\u00a0wireless-by-default<\/strong> reality, changes are needed on the wired network.\u00a0Paul Mah<\/a>\u00a0at FierceCIO<\/em> reports that the vendor community is working to address the Wi-Fi first world. Unfortunately, there are\u00a0two industry groups pushing their own new Ethernet specifications<\/strong>. Mr. Mah says that new Ethernet standards are needed to work with Wave 2 of 802.11ac wireless access points<\/a> (AP) with a theoretical maximum throughput of up to 3.5Gbps<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

N\"Captain<\/a>ew standards are needed because the existing Gigabit Ethernet is a bottleneck<\/strong> and current alternatives are not attractive. First, link-aggregating two Gigabit Ethernet connections for each Wi-Fi AP would\u00a0need\u00a0additional cabling and more expensive managed switches to support it. Using 10GbE would be overkill<\/strong>. Upgrading to 10GbE is a significant investment that includes\u00a0new Category 6a or Category 7 cables<\/strong>, more power, and more cabling.<\/p>\n

One faction, the MGBase-T Alliance, was formed in June 2014 and includes; Avaya,\u00a0<\/strong>Aruba<\/strong> Networks<\/a> (ARUN<\/a>), and Brocade<\/a><\/strong> (BRCD<\/a>)\u00a0as well as component vendors\u00a0Broadcom<\/a><\/strong> (BRCM)\u00a0and Freescale Semiconductor. The other group known as the NBase-T Alliance was formed in October 2014. This faction consists of\u00a0Cisco<\/a><\/strong> (CSCO<\/a>), Intel<\/strong>, Xilinx<\/a>\u00a0(XLNX<\/a>), Freescale, and Aquantia, a company that’s already making 2.5G\/5G components.<\/p>\n

Little agreement on standards<\/h3>\n

At the moment, the only agreement between the two factions is that 2.5Gbps and 5Gbps speeds are needed. The\u00a0IEEE<\/a> <\/strong>802 LAN\/MAN Standards Committee<\/a> has set up the P802.3bz 2.5\/5GBase-T Task Force<\/a> to address this issue. The 2015 Q1 CommScope<\/a><\/em> Standards Advisor<\/a> reports that the 802.3bz<\/strong> \"Ethernet<\/a>committee has decided so far that:<\/p>\n