Robert Frost and the Form Factor Future

摘要

IN HIS FAMOUS POEM, The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost writes, "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood." If you have read the poem or analyzed it, as many a high school English teacher has required, you know that Frost suggests taking the road less traveled is the better choice. And while this may be true for adventure seekers and wanderers out there, here in the world of IT I recognize the benefits of not wandering off on my own. The life cycle of network equipment can be five to seven years, or even longer, so on this cusp of 400G it is important to choose optics that offer interoperability for the long term. In my last column three years ago, I pointed out the need for adherence to open standards. This was primarily focused on nonproprietary protocols and other soft concerns. The benefits of interoperability and the undeniable market forces that drive innovation and reduce costs depend on it. Currently, as we find ourselves at the edge of 400G adoption, we've reached a different sort of fork in the road, pondering optical interface types.