Transatlantic Native 10 Gigabit Ethernet Experiments: Connecting Geneva to Ottawa

Local area network technology has evolved rapidly in speed and distance coverage. In this paper, we report on the first transatlantic native ”local area network” built using 10 Gigabit Ethernet technology. The article introduces 10 Gigabit Ethernet as defined by the IEEE 802.3ae standard and describes tests carried out with the 10 GE WAN PHY in the laboratory and in the field. Measurements performed using traffic generators at wire speed, and results of data transfers using established and experimental protocols, are presented. We make the case for the WAN PHY as a reliable technology to enable future GRID applications over legacy long haul networks.