10GBASE-T permits the flexible distance reach. More importantly, its backward compatibility with existing 1GbE networks makes it the ideal cost-effective media option for 10GbE infrastructure.

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Fiberstore (FS.COM) | An Ideal 10GbE Interface: Why 10GBASE-T?
Past years have witnessed an increased adoption of Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) networking
infrastructure to accommodate the fast-growing network traffic. Owing to the rapid advances in
Ethernet technologies, the growth rate of network bandwidth is so fast that there pushed the need
for higher-level Gigabit solution—10GbE. This need is vigor-ed further by the increasing availability
of bandwidth-demanding applications and unified networking infrastructure puts extreme
input/output (I/O) demands on 1GbE, making data centers facing bandwidth challenges. More and
more enterprises or organizations have chosen 10GbE links for bandwidth requirement satisfactions.
For those users, deploying 10GbE infrastructure can address network traffic problems by delivering
greater bandwidth, simplifying network, and lowering power consumption.
Well, the deployment of 10GbE requires cost-effective solution. In general, there are several 10GbE
interfaces to choose from, including CX4, SFP+ fiber, SFP+ Direct Attach Copper (DAC), and
10GBASE-T. As for CX4, it’s an older technology that does not meet high density requirements.
Although most deployment chooses SFP+ fiber (eg. J9153A) solution, fiber is in no case
cost-effective. Besides, SFP+ DAC is limited by its short reach. In such a case, 10GBASE-T is selected
as the less power-consuming and cost-saving solution for 10GbE. This article details at what are the
reasons that drive the 10GBASE-T to become the suitable 10GbE media option.
Firstly, let’s figure out what is 10GBASE-T. 10GBASE-T, or IEEE 802.3an-2006, is a standard released
in 2006 to provide 10Gbit/s connections over unshielded or shielded twisted pair cables, with
distances up to 100 meters (330 ft) with RJ45 connectors. 10GBASE-T cable infrastructure can also
be used for 1000BASE-T, allowing a gradual upgrade from 1000BASE-T using auto-negotiation to
select which speed to use.
An Ideal 10GbE
Interface: Why
10GBASE-T?

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Fiberstore (FS.COM) | An Ideal 10GbE Interface: Why 10GBASE-T?
Reasons Why Choose 10GBASE-T
Listed below are several reasons why 10GBASE-T become the ideal 10GbE media option.
 Flexibility in Reach
Like other copper network implementations using BASE-T standards, 10GBASE-T works for link
lengths up to 100 meters, giving network designers a far greater level of flexibility in connecting
devices in the data center. Able to realize flexible reach, 10GBASE-T can accommodate either top of
the rack, middle of row, or end of the row network topologies, making server placement even more
easy and convenient.
 Backward Compatibility
10GBASE-T is backward-compatible with existing 1GbE networks, meaning that it can be deployed
based on existing 1GbE switch infrastructures in data centers that are cabled with CAT6 and CAT6A
(or above) cabling. In other words, when migrating from 1GbE to 10GbE, 10GBASE-T provides an
easy path, saving cost.
 Reduction in Power Consumption
In widespread deployment of 10GbE networks using 10GBASE-T interface, one challenge lies in the
fact that the early physical layer interface chips (PHYs) consumed too much power. The original
gigabit chips were roughly 6.5 Watts per port. With technology improvements, the chips improved
from one generation to the next, leading to less 1 W per port for 1GbE interfaces. It’s the same with
10GBASET. And owing to the manufacturing processes, the 10GBASE-T reduction in power
consumption has been made possible. The figure below shows the relationship between power
consumption and wavelength.
When 10GBASE-T adapters were first introduced in 2008, they required 25 W of power for a single
port, and later, power has been reduced thanks to the successive generations of developing newer
and smaller process technologies. The latest 10GBASE-T adapters require less than 6 W per
port,which makes 10GBASE-T suitable for motherboard integration and high-density switches.
 Latency

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Fiberstore (FS.COM) | An Ideal 10GbE Interface: Why 10GBASE-T?
Depending on packet size, latency for 10GBASE-T ranges from just over 2 µs to less than 4 µs—a
much tighter latency range. For Ethernet packet sizes of 512 bytes or larger, 10GBASE-T’s overall
throughput offers an advantage over 1000BASE-T. Latency for 10GBASE-T is more than three times
lower than 1000BASE-T with larger packet sizes. For those enterprise applications that have been
operating for years with 1000BASE-T latency, 10GBASE-T latency only makes things better. Many
products designed for Local Area Network (LAN) purposely add small amounts of latency to reduce
power consumption or CPU overhead.
Broad use of 10GBASE-T interface simplifies data center infrastructures, making it easier to manage
server connectivity while delivering the bandwidth needed for heavily virtualized servers and
I/O-intensive applications. As the cost continues to fall, and new technological processes further
lower power consumption, all these make 10GBASE-T suitable for integration on server
motherboards.
Conclusion
After discussion, you have obtained the reasons why 10GBASE-T is taken as an ideal 10GbE interface.
10GBASE-T permits the flexible distance reach. More importantly, its backward compatibility with
existing 1GbE networks makes it the ideal cost-effective media option for 10GbE infrastructure. As
an outstanding fiber optic product manufacturer and supplier, Fiberstore provides countless
10GBASE-T and other 10GBASE standard transceivers for 10GbE applications, such as 10GBASE-LR
SFP+ (E10GSFPLR). For more information about 10GbE interfaces, you can visit www.fs.com.

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Fiberstore (FS.COM)| An Ideal 10GbE Interface: Why 10GBASE-T?
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Notice: This document is for informational purposes only and does not set forth any warranty, expressed or
implied, concerning any equipment, equipment features, or service offered or to be offered by Fiberstore.
Fiberstore reserves the right to make changes to this document at any time, without notice, and assumes no
responsibility for its use. This information document describes features that may not be currently available.
Contact a Fiberstore sales team for information on feature and product availability.
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