One of the hallmarks in the maturity of any new technology is a plugfest. Plugfests are a communal event where several manufacturers utilizing a new technology get together to put their product through its pace. These events are overseen by a third-party authority to provide the necessary rigor and of course, deploy expertise to support the plugfest participants.
Plugfests have two main objectives. The first objective is conformance. A very thorough test protocol is used to determine that the submitted product(s) meet the appropriate standard for the product. Conformance is an important first step that gives the manufacturer confidence that their product meets this chosen standard. And its an important gateway to the next objective, interoperability.
Plugfests attract several manufacturers with products that utilize the new technology. Logically, plugfest participants may wonder if their device will “play nice” with other devices. And that, in a nutshell, is interoperability. So, the second objective of a plugfest is verifying and supporting interoperability.
I’m very happy to announce that Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) has achieved this maturity milestone. Ethernet Alliance, #voiceofethernet, is planning an SPE plugfest for the end of Q1 2024. This plugfest event is open to all participants, including Ethernet Alliance members and non-members. The next step in the process is a Call for Interest (CFI) meeting. During the CFI, experts will present information about the plugfest and answer as many audience questions as possible.
Through the diligent work of the Ethernet Alliance SPE subcommittee, with foundational contributions from UL Solutions and Telebyte, a test plan was written to test conformance to the IEEE 802.3cg standard. The subcommittee has also developed a test protocol to determine interoperability between conformant devices.
IEEE 802.3cg is the first Single Pair Ethernet standard, defining two (2) SPE PHYs; 10BASE-T1L, designed to serve point-to-point links over distances of up to 1000 meters, with optional power delivery and 10BASE-T1S, designed to serve multidrop links with up to 8 nodes over up to 25 meters (combined length). The planned plugfest is restricted to 10BASE-T1L PHYs from all manufacturers. Plugfest participants may elect to submit their device(s) to test protocols for “data only” and/or “data with power.”
Interested? I’ll bet you are! Here are some key facts you should note:
- Ethernet Alliance will host the Call for Interest meeting on Nov. 6, 2023, at 10 a.m. CDT, using Zoom
- The plugfest is open to all and so is the CFI meeting
- Register for the CFI meeting here
- To monitor the post-CFI activities, check the Ethernet Alliance website, www.ethernetalliance.org
- Information is also available at www.panduit.com
- Because of the sensitive nature of plugfests, participants are required to execute a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) as a condition of participation
I hope you find this SPE milestone as exciting as I do. Continue following Panduit and the Ethernet Alliance for more details. I hope to see you at the plugfest!
