Sun Microsystems is preparing to offer new 10 Gigabit Ethernet technology across its hardware product line, including its processors, blades, motherboards and switches.
The Santa Clara, Calif., IT company formally announced its 10G networking technology, previously dubbed “Neptune,” on Feb. 13. The first product to use this technology is a network adaptor card that uses the newer PCI Express standard—a serial link that enables more to move through fewer lines—will start to ship to customers immediately.
Sun officials first hinted at the new Ethernet technology in January, when they announced that the company’s latest SPARC multi-threaded processor, called “Rock,” will be released in 2008.
This new Ethernet technology, according to Sun officials, has been specifically designed to take advantage of the multi-threading capabilities found in its own Solaris operating system and its line of UltraSPARC T1 processors, formally known as Niagara.
Unlike conventional processors that can only process a single thread of instruction at once, multi-threading allows the chip to be more flexible. If a process is waiting for memory for one thread, the chip can work on another.
Read the full story on eWEEK.com: Sun to Offer 10G Ethernet Across Its Product Line.
