brian – Ethernity Networks https://ethernitynet.com Wed, 15 May 2024 12:14:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://ethernitynet.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/red-square-with-en.png brian – Ethernity Networks https://ethernitynet.com 32 32 Maintaining E-Band Performance: A Streamlined Approach with ENET Virtual Bonding https://ethernitynet.com/maintaining-e-band-performance-a-streamlined-approach-with-enet-virtual-bonding/ Wed, 15 May 2024 12:14:03 +0000 https://ethernitynet.com/?p=38646

Maintaining E-Band Performance: A Streamlined Approach with ENET Virtual Bonding

E-band wireless links boast impressive data throughput capabilities, but their performance can be susceptible to fluctuations caused by environmental factors. This variability necessitates a strategic approach to ensure consistent service delivery – enter load balancing. This article explores the challenges associated with traditional E-band load balancing solutions and introduces ENET’s innovative virtual bonding technology, which streamlines the process for superior network performance.

The E-Band Balancing Act

While E-band excels in high-capacity data transmission, its sensitivity to environmental conditions like rain and fog can negatively impact throughput. To uphold stringent service level agreements (SLAs), network operators require load balancing – a technique that distributes traffic across multiple radio links for optimal performance and service resiliency.

Traditional Load Balancing: A Complex Landscape

Conventional solutions offer two primary approaches for E-band load balancing: indoor and outdoor implementations.

  • Indoor Bonding: This approach necessitates the implementation of additional protection schemes or backup links. Additionally, it requires the use of multiple cables to connect the indoor unit (IDU) to various outdoor units (ODUs). The complexity of installation and cabling associated with this method makes it less than ideal for large-scale deployments.
  • Outdoor Bonding: Here, the wireless backhaul connects to a single cable within the outdoor enclosure. This signal is then split and distributed across multiple radios for load balancing. However, this method necessitates the deployment of expensive and power-hungry hardware on the outdoor unit, particularly when balancing between microwave (MW) and E-band radios or dual E-band links. This complexity can significantly increase operational costs and energy consumption.

ENET Virtual Bonding: A Smarter Solution

ENET’s virtual bonding technology offers a more streamlined and cost-effective approach to E-band load balancing:

  • Simplified Outdoor Infrastructure: This method leverages a standard outdoor switch or ethernet mux, eliminating the need for bulky bonding hardware outdoors. This reduces both equipment costs and ongoing power consumption.
  • Centralized Intelligence: The critical load balancing function is performed by the powerful ENET UEP-2025 located indoors. This device acts as the central control point for the entire network, ensuring optimal resource allocation.
  • Data-Driven Decisions: The UEP-2025 employs intelligent algorithms to analyze radio link performance parameters such as jitter, latency, and throughput. This real-time data is then used to make informed load balancing decisions, guaranteeing optimal performance.
  • Dynamic Traffic Distribution: The UEP-2025 efficiently distributes traffic originating from high-capacity 5G base stations across multiple VLANs using a single 10/25G uplink (copper or fiber). This optimizes network utilization and minimizes bottlenecks.
  • Adaptive Load Balancing: The system creates virtual ports and constantly measures available bandwidth across radio links to dynamically optimize load distribution. This ensures that network resources are allocated efficiently based on real-time conditions.
  • Seamless Integration: The outdoor switch serves a simple function – distributing each VLAN to the corresponding MW or E-band radio unit. This streamlined architecture simplifies deployment and ongoing network management.

 The ENET Advantage

ENET’s virtual bonding solution offers a compelling value proposition for network operators seeking to maximize the potential of their E-band deployments:

  • Reduced Costs: By eliminating the need for expensive outdoor bonding hardware and simplifying infrastructure, ENET significantly reduces overall operational expenditure.
  • Simplified Installation: Utilizing a standard outdoor switch expedites installation and reduces deployment complexity.
  • Enhanced Reliability: By constantly analyzing and optimizing link performance, ENET ensures optimal load balancing and minimizes the impact of environmental fluctuations on service delivery.
  • Scalability: The UEP-2025’s centralized architecture can seamlessly handle traffic from multiple base stations, future-proofing your network for evolving capacity demands.

Conclusion

While E-band technology offers tremendous potential for high-capacity wireless connectivity, its performance hinges on reliable load balancing. ENET’s innovative virtual bonding solution addresses the limitations of traditional methods, simplifying deployment, reducing costs, and ensuring consistent performance for your E-band network. By leveraging ENET, you can confidently harness the power of E-band, knowing your network can adapt and deliver exceptional service regardless of environmental conditions.

 

What to learn more?

Come visit us May 21-23 at Informatech Light Reading Network X Americas

Irving Convention Center, Texas USA

Ilan Tevet

VP Marketing and Business Development

Contact Us

[contact-form-7]
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The Growth of FTTx https://ethernitynet.com/growth-of-fttx/ Thu, 04 May 2023 10:18:48 +0000 https://ethernitynet.com/?p=38280

A couple weeks ago, Ethernity attended the FTTH Conference 2023 in Madrid, Spain as a guest of a potential XGS-PON customer.  The conference, which is hosted by the FTTH Council Europe, is the world’s largest fiber optic trade fair, featuring expert workshops on a wide range of fiber-enabled technologies and regulatory subjects, as well as an expo of service providers, manufacturers, and vendors.

From Ethernity’s perspective, the conference was very successful, with positive meetings with at least four potential customers, including one especially large system integrator who seemed very keen on Ethernity’s technology.  Possible deals were discussed, and plans were set in motion for various tests and proofs of concept to be arranged over the following weeks and months.

One of the most positive outcomes of the conference were a series of reports that emerge from the FTTH Council, illustrating how much fiber has penetrated the European market.  As discussed in an article in Lightwave magazine, the reports paint a picture of a market in which fiber-to-the-home and fiber-to-the-building are growing at a steep rate. Perhaps even better, there seems to be much room for further expansion as the technology continues to develop and as subscribers are evangelized and converted.

In fact, pretty much all forecasts for the PON industry are extremely positive and optimistic of late.  A recent article in LightReading pointed out that both industry insiders and analysts are seeing operators focus much of their efforts on fiber, especially on XGS-PON.  Fiber is seen as a cost-saving architecture, and many service providers are coming around to the idea that it has applications beyond residential to be of value for commercial and industrial implementations as well.

Ethernity sees these trends as excellent news for its burgeoning PON business, whether it’s our new UEP3808 OLT appliance, our XGS-PON FPGA SoC, or our FTTR PON device. We look forward to contributing heavily to the growing number of fiber deployments and the advancement of the market from PON to GPON to XGS-PON and onward into 25G and even 50G PON in the coming years.

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FTTR Board Progress https://ethernitynet.com/fttr-board-progress/ Thu, 30 Mar 2023 15:23:56 +0000 https://ethernitynet.com/?p=38262

Exciting news!  We have completed integration of our Single-Port PON OLT MAC into our Asian OEM customer’s Fiber-to-the-Room (FTTR) board.

Following completion of further software integration and lab tests, our OEM customer’s FTTR Gateway offering will begin field testing. We have been informed that the OEM has already scheduled with major Asian Telecom providers to start by the beginning of May, and then it is anticipated that production orders will commence shortly thereafter.

The FTTR product is really the first of its kind.  It incorporates both an off-the-shelf XGS-PON ONU SoC and Ethernity’s GPON OLT on a single board, making it ideal for splitting a large pipeline into smaller bandwidth connections to reach multiple rooms within a house, apartments within a multi-dwelling building, or offices and classrooms within a campus.

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WISPAmerica 2022 Recap: Disaggregated Routers, PON, and Link Bonding https://ethernitynet.com/wispamerica_2022_recap/ Tue, 29 Mar 2022 12:00:18 +0000 https://ethernitynet.com/?p=37638

A couple weeks ago, Ethernity exhibited its UEP2025 and UEP-20 network appliances at WISPAmerica, one of the two annual conferences of the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association. The conference was well-attended and generally successful, with lots of foot traffic and great interest in our products.

In fact, there was significant demand for reasonably-priced cell site routers with 1G and 10G interfaces, especially once the benefits of Ethernity’s integrated patented link bonding were explained.

Most WISPs are small businesses that own or lease a few towers to provide broadband access and that invest their startup money primarily in a supporting backhaul network. The fact that Ethernity’s bonding technology would allow these WISPs the flexibility to connect to any radio unit, no matter the vendor and no matter the frequency, introduces a previously unexpected measure of cost-savings into the WISP deployment, as the service provider is no longer beholden to a given vendor’s equipment, which is necessarily going to come at a premium when it’s the only available option.

This is the essence of disaggregation, which was very clearly the buzzword at this conference and has been a concept that Ethernity has championed for the past couple years. Disaggregation enables enterprises to eliminate the cost associated with procurement and maintenance of hardware equipment and to handle multiple workloads with maximum uptime and improved performance. Through this, and by eliminating vendor lock-in, it can generate significant savings in a company’s operational expenses.

Ethernity is able to take disaggregation to another level through the use of the ultimate platform for disaggregating networks, the FPGA. FPGAs improve performance while avoiding vendor lock-in, and they futureproof the network, thereby saving on long-term operating expenses and reducing total cost of ownership.

As more WISPs began to take note of the advantages of Ethernity’s FPGA-based products and link bonding technology, the more serious their inquiries into the specifics of our offerings became.

Ethernity can also offer a side benefit to WISPs through our PON solutions. While some WISPs offer exclusively fixed wireless access, others also offer fiber-to-the-home broadband access. In a market that is serving a mostly rural clientele in low population density areas, PON-based fiber networks represent existing infrastructure that can save these small business owners from having to invest as much in their networks.

However, most PON solutions today are larger devices that offer more ports than the average WISP requires. This unnecessarily raises the price, let alone the power consumption, which severely restricts a WISP’s ability to turn a profit.

Ethernity’s appliances are ideal for the PON deployments because we offer low power, low port-count devices that are capable of providing both PON and Ethernet interfaces. Ethernity’s bonding technology also works over both wireless and wired connections. This is the beauty of the FPGA’s flexibility and Ethernity’s masterful firmware to handle so many use cases.

Perhaps the most significant observation I can make about WISPAmerica regards Ethernity’s penetration into this market. At one point, I was able to wander the tradeshow floor to gain a sense of who was in attendance and who were the major manufacturers catering to this industry. Around every corner, seemingly, there was another Ethernity customer. There were fixed wireless access customers and there were wireless backhaul customers.  In fact, my rough estimate was that Ethernity’s technology can already be found in about 50% of the OEMs who were exhibiting at WISPAmerica!

In other words, Ethernity is in the right place at the right time to supply the best-in-class technology and products to an industry that is eager to embrace disaggregated networking.

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Distributed Security Offload and DU Routing https://ethernitynet.com/distributed-security/ Thu, 16 Dec 2021 11:16:18 +0000 https://ethernitynet.com/?p=37505

In 5G networks, data travels from the radio tower to the Radio Unit (RU), via the Distributed Unit (DU), onward to the Central Unit (CU), before reaching the User Plane Functionality (UPF), which then forwards it to the core network. The same path occurs in reverse, as well.

The vast majority of security functions are handled within the CU.  This includes the application of IPSec, header compression, PDCP header encapsulation/decapsulation, ciphering and deciphering, and integrity protection, verification, and reordering.

Wireline access networks run through a DSLAM, which is Layer 2 network equipment that requires no routing, as all traffic is forwarded within a single network. However, in mobile networks for 3G, 4G, or 5G, a cell site router becomes a necessary component to handle connectivity over the overlay network, as well as for DU connectivity toward the many CUs distributed throughout a cloud-based Radio Access Network (RAN). This is generally expected to be handled by external, standalone cell site router devices.

Moreover, when so many CUs are connected to DUs, there can be as much as 100Gbps of throughput. The CPUs that are being relied on in Open RAN 5G deployments are inefficient at handling security functions even under the best of circumstances, let alone at 100G. Performing all these security functions, especially IPSec, on 100G of traffic is a cumbersome, onerous task which will cause a serious bottleneck at the CU unless those functions can be offloaded and distributed better throughout the RAN.

Ethernity therefore proposes using FPGAs as the de facto platform for Open RAN security. By offloading the heavy tasks of data encryption/decryption and IPSec from the sequential processing of CPU cores to the much more efficient parallel processing of FPGAs, the CU IPSec bottleneck can be distributed more evenly across multiple DUs. In other words, it makes sense to handle the encryption offload when it is small.

For example, Ethernity can apply the IPSec protocols to data via its FPGA-based ACE-NIC100 SmartNIC as it passes through a white-box DU server, before it ever is routed to the CU. Furthermore, that same ACE-NIC100 incorporates a complete router on the on-board FPGA, eliminating the need for an external cell site router between the DU and CU.  Alternatively, by installing the ACE-NIC100, it is possible to co-locate both the DU and CU functionalities into a single server, saving space, power, and latency in the Open RAN 5G network.

We have spoken to numerous potential OEM customers who are excited by the possibility of handling both DU and CU in one box. We have spoken to many system integrators, some of whom prefer to keep the cell site router as an external device, and others of whom prefer to incorporate routing into the NIC.  Based on these conversations, there is little doubt in which direction the market is trending.

Thanks to the agility of the FPGA and the unique innovative development of our IP,  Ethernity has products to meet all these preferences, allowing us to continue to remain ahead of the curve.

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The Advantage of Using FPGAs for Telecom Edge Networking Devices https://ethernitynet.com/advantage-using-fpgas-telecom-edge-networking/ Thu, 18 Nov 2021 10:06:48 +0000 https://ethernitynet.com/?p=37481

At the heart of any electronic device is a processor (or processing unit) that controls it. There are several flavors of processors, each designed with different purposes in mind. The following are the most prevalent types:

  • CPU (central processing unit)
  • GPU (graphical processing unit)
  • FPGA (field-programmable gate array)
  • ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit)

A CPU is basically the standard, vanilla-flavored processor. It can have one or several core microprocessors which each operate sequentially, processing information. This is used in ordinary computers, and is the default option for any application that doesn’t require high bandwidth or very efficient use of resources.

GPUs were created to handle large amounts of graphical throughput, although they are used for other applications with a similar need to process a lot of data simultaneously. A GPU consists of thousands of processor cores to enable significant parallel processing. However, in applications that cannot provide a near-constant stream of high-bandwidth data, too many cores sit idle, resulting in an inefficient solution that wastes power and can cause high latency.

FPGAs are by definition the most versatile processors. At its simplest, these are processors that can be programmed at the hardware level to fit the application’s need. In fact, FPGAs can be reprogrammed in the field as well (hence, the “field-programmable” part of their name). This is a big advantage in any application where the need for changes are anticipated – for example, in new applications where there are evolving standards and requirements. Like GPUs, FPGAs also employ parallel processing, but without the penalty for periods of low throughput.

ASICs are the opposite of FPGAs in terms of programmability. These are fully optimized for a particular application and cannot be changed once produced. For applications with large enough scale and relatively unchanging requirements, this lack of flexibility and the high cost of design and production of ASICs is deemed worthwhile because the end result is a processor that is tailor-made for the intended use.

Processor Components

When it comes to processors of any kind – whether CPUs, GPUs, FPGAs, of ASICs – there are several ways to quantify their performance. At the risk of oversimplification, let’s examine just three:

  • Memory capacity – how much information can be stored on the chip
  • Compute – how well (fast) information can be processed within the chip
  • Bandwidth:
    • I/O bandwidth – how quickly information can be ported in and out of the chip
    • Memory bandwidth – how quickly the chip can read and write memory

While all of these features are fundamental and exist in all types of processor, different applications have different priorities which can be executed better by placing a higher focus on a certain one or another aspect.

In applications that require a lot of compute power, such as weather modeling, simulations, and semiconductor design, high compute CPUs or GPUs work best. In other cases, there may be minimal computational requirements, but large memory capacity is needed.

FPGAs in Networking Applications

When it comes to edge networking and other low latency applications, FPGAs are the most attractive option. The parallel processing trait of FPGAs enables them to handle the complex networking functionalities of a telecom network with competitive performance, while allowing for future changes since FGPAs can be reprogrammed in the field.

Timothy Prickett Morgan made a similar argument on The Next Platform in his in-depth overview of the upcoming Xilinx Versal high-bandwidth memory (HBM) device: He explained that “many latency sensitive workloads in the networking, aerospace and defense, telecom, and financial services industries simply cannot get the job done [without HBM devices].” He also quoted a Xilinx senior product line manager who pointed out that CPU-based HBM devices do not include a hardware switch, which means they are obligated to cannibalize some of the internal software to achieve this. (A switch is necessary to connect all ports to all sections of the internal memory.) Using an FPGA means that some of the hardware logic can be designated as a complete working switch without relying on software. This lowers the power consumption and latency of the device.

At Ethernity, we are stalwart proponents of the idea that FPGAs are the perfect building block for networking cards and appliances. For over 18 years, we have developed and improved upon our proprietary FPGA flow processor technology to fully harness the power of FPGAs for networking. In tests we ran comparing software running on white-box servers (CPUs) to our FPGA-based accelerated solutions such as the ACE-NIC100 SmartNIC, we found that the FPGA-based solution takes up less overall space because it requires fewer cores, uses significantly less power leading to much lower operational costs, and provides deterministic 100Gbps performance with less than 3 microseconds of latency.

Thus, it remains true that FPGAs offer the performance of ASICs with the flexibility of software running on CPUs.

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A New Market with a World of Promise https://ethernitynet.com/new-market-world-of-promise/ Wed, 20 Oct 2021 12:39:12 +0000 https://ethernitynet.com/?p=37459

I was privileged last week to spend my time in Las Vegas at WISPAPALOOZA, the annual showcase event of the Wireless Internet Service Provider Association. In all honesty, until about six months ago, I had never even heard of WISPA, let alone this particular event.  And yet, in many ways, this was one of the most promising events Ethernity has attended in many years.

Traditionally, Ethernity has attended Mobile World Congress in Barcelona each year because it is rightly known as the ultimate tradeshow in the telecom industry. However, MWC is, to some degree, a letdown for a company like Ethernity. While there are usually over 100,000 attendees in Barcelona each year, the massive scope of the event and the overwhelming predominance of the largest operators and the monolithic equipment providers makes it hard for a smaller company such as ours to gain any traction toward collecting legitimate leads or conducting any real business.  In fact, Shavit Baruch, our VP of R&D and co-founder, has often said that we only attend MWC because it’s important to be seen and to be recognized as an active company in the industry.

During the COVID era, Ethernity has eschewed participating in virtual events, as we have found that the return on the investment is lacking. While video meetings are certainly ubiquitous in today’s pandemic-affected world, such meetings lack the personal touch that often leads to deeper relationships with our potential customers and then to contracts.  Among the one or two virtual events in which we did participate, absolutely nothing came from them.

Worse yet, we recently attended an in-person event that failed to commit itself to either the live conference or to its simultaneous online version. Instead of a thriving showroom floor teeming with attendees, the event ended up less than 50% full, as many expected participants opted for the virtual sessions. While I can understand why the organizers would want to hedge their bets to protect themselves against the possibility of a cancelation because of COVID, this experience was eye-opening to us. Despite the audience being ideal for our 5G marketing efforts, we learned to avoid shows that are not fully invested in the face-to-face event.

Which leads me to WISPAPALOOZA, a trade show that did things exactly right. From the very outset, the organizers made clear that the event was going to be all about bringing people together in person.  Of course, measures were taken to make everyone feel comfortable and safe, but at no time was there ever any consideration expressed that the event might be canceled, postponed, turned virtual, or limited in any way. And while attendance was reportedly down from its peak in 2019, there were still nearly 2,000 people at the event, which, while not even approaching MWC, is still a terrific showing.

Moreover, the organizers are craftily expert in ensuring that the exhibitors felt that their money was well-spent. By creating clear demarcations between the informational sessions and the showroom openings, there was a sense that those hours when booths and kiosks were required to be manned dominated the attention of the attendees, such that there was a focus on developing relationships, cultivating real leads, and dealmaking. Even when foot traffic seemed light, there were opportunities to interact with other exhibitors to promote our products and evangelize our solutions.

I have long said that if Ethernity can come away from each event with even one deal, even if that deal ends up being finalized many months later, the event has paid for itself. Regarding WISPAPALOOZA, we found that there was serious interest among WISPs and manufacturers in our newly patented L1 Wireless Bonding technology, especially when it is enveloped in our small form-factor UEP-20 appliance. There were even a couple comments about how this has been lacking from the industry for many years, and therefore the technology is a true breakthrough.

I cannot say with any certainty whether a deal will result from our interactions at WISPAPALOOZA 2021, but in this particular instance, I don’t know that it matters. We were introduced to a brand new marketplace, one in which we have just started to see demand for our products, and we felt right at home. That is the biggest takeaway for me from this event.

Whether it was the warm reception we received from various OEMs because they had heard our name and wanted to learn more about what we bring to the table, or whether it was distributors who sought us out because they recognize that we have something worthwhile to offer to the literally thousands of WISPs across North America (or even beyond), or whether it was the publishers of the daily newsletter who surprised us by including articles about us on two of the three days of the event, or whether it was the friendly neighbors on each side of our kiosk who gladly referred their own customers and partners to us in the spirit of camaraderie that just seemed to infect the entire occasion… we benefitted over and over again from the feeling that we had been welcomed into a family that props up its members for the greater good of the industry.

I am confident that only good things can come from such an atmosphere.  We cannot wait to sign up for the next WISPA event, WISPAmerica in New Orleans in March.  We are eager to follow up on the connections we made, to strengthen the new ties we have with OEMs and distributors alike, and to strategize on how we, too, can bring our particular flavor of excellence to the broader WISP community.

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The Ideal Mix for Employees https://ethernitynet.com/ideal-mix-employees/ Thu, 07 Oct 2021 10:24:12 +0000 https://ethernitynet.com/?p=37408

A recent article in the Israeli business magazine Globes addressed some of the challenges that are currently facing Intel, including losing its lead in the chip market, CEO churn, and a lagging share price compared to its competitors.

While the article focused on the role that the Israel branch of Intel’s R&D and manufacturing arms can play in Intel’s revival, we at Ethernity Networks paid special attention to the section of the article that dealt with one particular issue that has plagued large corporations of late – employee retention and defections.

These corporate giants have been bleeding their best engineers to fierce demand from not only other technology giants, but also from well-established yet smaller companies like Ethernity Networks.

And why not? When you consider the many benefits of working for a dynamic company such as Ethernity over a massive corporation, it seems pretty obvious.

For example, in larger companies, most junior employees are given a specific set of tasks, which they perform with no knowledge of how their work will ultimately be integrated into the larger project. As one person quoted in the Globes article said, “Amazon pays great, but in the end, you’re a small cog in the machine, without global impact. Anyone who goes to work at Google’s hardware division in Israel deals with a very narrow aspect of cloud CPUs.”

Ethernity, on the other hand, offers an environment in which its employees interact with a variety of different disciplines and responsibilities, touching on all the aspects of a global project. Furthermore, our employees are part of the whole product development cycle and not limited to just their individual tasks, so they see the bigger picture and how their piece fits into the entire project and into Ethernity’s range of strategic offerings. This leads to an enhanced knowledge base that incorporates a wider set of skills than just the core competencies that are built in a massive corporation.

This exposure to all the company’s departments and the cooperation with those departments broadens the scope of possibilities for the employees’ career paths, such that the workers have more say in the direction they take. When it is clear that the employees’ talents lie more in one discipline over the original department into which they were hired, it is much more likely that the company will encourage that development and take advantage of it.

As the Globes article mentioned, “Today… long-standing employees are leaving Intel, equipped with specific, narrow expertise and without the tools to help them integrate into other companies. ‘What people have absorbed there, over 10-15 years, doesn’t really match what can be absorbed at other companies for that time…’”

When employees are not limited in their development by being compartmentalized, it leads to the potential for quicker advancement through the ranks of the company. At Ethernity, our employees’ contributions are far more noticeable and recognized, both because the work can stand out in a company of dozens of employees much more so than in a company of thousands, and because the company’s management is hands-on and can see their work firsthand.

To quote the Globes article once again, “…the sheer size of the company sometimes makes it difficult to move quickly, and when one division head gets replaced by another, it’s like a body that’s had its head replaced.”

But it’s not only junior workers who benefit from working at a smaller, more family-like company such as Ethernity. More veteran, senior employees will often find that they yearn to work in an all-inclusive, broad-minded environment where employees are not “just a number” but rather part of the team (or even the entire Ethernity “family”). They seek rewards packages that are more flexible because the hiring company does not fit all its employees into a single employment contract mold.

Interestingly, Ethernity is also in a bit of a sweet spot when it comes to the potential for employees to cash in on company options compared to younger startups. Whereas options in a startup have no real value when an employee leaves the company, rather only being worth something should the startup go public or be bought, Ethernity is already a publicly traded company.  Ethernity’s options, when granted, are based on current market prices and can be exercised and converted into marketable shares, offering employees the possibility of significantly enhancing their full compensation package. Furthermore, as the employees contribute toward growing the market share of Ethernity’s unique and exciting offerings, the Company’s share price on the London Stock Exchange grows exponentially adding “super growth” to the share price at a far greater rate than that of the giants such as Intel. Employees therefore build their worth as Ethernity’s value grows.

Another aspect of the work that plays to Ethernity’s advantage is the work-life balance. Startups are notorious for overworking their employees to the point of burnout, but there are more modern frustrations for managers at today’s massive corporations, ones that simply never existed until recently. There is, in large part, a sense of entitlement among some of today’s junior staff that can interfere with a manager’s ability to lead properly.  For example, Noam Bardin, the former CEO of Waze, recently commented on his experience after the company was acquired by Google, by saying “Having trouble scheduling meetings because ‘it’s the new Yoga instructor lesson I cannot miss’ or ‘I’m taking a personal day’ drove me crazy. The worst thing is that this was in line with the policies and norms – I was the weirdo who wanted to push things fast and expected some level of personal sacrifice when needed.”

There is also a better sense of satisfaction in knowing that a job well done has a direct impact on the company’s fortunes as well as improving the fortunes of the company’s customers. As Bardin noted, “At the end of every day, I always ask myself ‘what did I do for our users today?’ This simple exercise helps keep priorities straight. When I found myself avoiding this question because I was embarrassed by the answer, I knew my time was up. I feel we ended up with the worst of both worlds – the challenges of a startup with the constraints of a corporation… We start companies to build products that serve people, not to sit in meetings with lawyers. You need to be able to answer the ‘what have I done for our users today’ question with ‘not much but I got promoted’, and be happy with that answer to be successful in Corp-Tech. I guess that’s just not me.”

Let me assure you, Mr. Bardin, it’s not Ethernity either. At Ethernity we reward our staff for their contributions; our employee salaries are not only reviewed annually or upon promotion, but also when employees are recognized for their significant input to a project, for going the extra mile, or for contributing outside of their basic functions. And not just in terms of a pay raise, but bonuses and additional options as well. A smaller company like Ethernity has the HR flexibility to deal with employees on a one-on-one basis instead of via a fixed one-size-fits-all model.

So whether you are an FPGA engineer just starting out on your career or you are an experienced manager in the field looking for new challenges that rekindle the exhilaration of creating something new and exciting in a dynamic environment, think twice before accepting what seems like a cushy offer from the likes of Intel, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, Google, or Nvidia. Be wary of the promises of a startup that may or may not ever be worth anything and where funding uncertainty can shorten your career at the startup significantly.

Ethernity is at the very forefront of the technological edge for its FPGA engineers. We work with the most advanced FPGA system-on-a-chip technology, and our engineers are exposed to full NOC (network-on-a-chip) design, including our network processor and traffic manager, crypto engines, and many of the most exciting new features in the market.

Moving up in the market value chain, the company requires senior software engineers to lead teams developing cloud virtualization drivers and virtual software appliances including router, and integrating with other virtual networking functions like DPI, monitoring, and security. Therefore, the challenges a software engineer faces at Ethernity compare favorably with those found in large corporations, only amid a better working environment and atmosphere than our peers.

The smart play is to work for a company that offers stimulating opportunities in a growth environment at the leading edge, one that has the stability of being well-funded, publicly-listed company on a well-respected stock exchange, where there is a culture that provides the freedom to learn, flourish, and rapidly ascend the ladder that is lacking in the big boys.

In Israel, no tech company represents that ideal mix more than Ethernity.

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How Telecom Can Help Africa’s Financial Recovery in the Wake of COVID-19 https://ethernitynet.com/how-telecom-can-help-africa-financial-recovery/ Tue, 15 Jun 2021 10:35:21 +0000 https://ethernitynet.com/?p=37203

COVID-19 has affected us all over the past year and a half. For some, the hardship has been all too personal. While others have remained healthy, COVID-19 has still changed almost everyone’s lives, in one way or another. The financial impact of COVID-19 has left repercussions even in places that had fewer outbreaks.

In Africa, the economy is still hurting from a recession brought on (at least in part) by COVID-19. When Africa’s trade partners had to slow or shut down operations during the pandemic, it had a direct and lasting effect on the African economic sector. Stagnant trade produced ripple effects, leading to lower consumption in Africa and a lower average income per capita. Coupled with lower prices of oil exports, almost no tourism, and other factors, this  led to a serious blow to the African economy.

There are many approaches toward reviving an economy at a time like this. Some countries try to spur spending by offering stimulus packages. Others encourage innovation to breathe new life into the economy. In Africa, focusing on telecommunications advancement is one of the best ways to respond to this economic recession.

Before COVID-19, the African telecommunications landscape was looking promising. A new transatlantic cable was laid to Brazil and Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) was introduced to many urban areas. There had already been a move toward abandoning 3G in favor of 4G, while 5G was being discussed as a possibility in the not-so-distant future thanks to the promise of OpenRAN technologies.

On the flip side, lack of electricity continued to be a hurdle in many remote areas, while 4G prices remained too high for full market penetration. Another negative is that monopolies and duopolies remain the norm in many sub-Saharan countries.

As COVID-19 broke out, telecom began to play a major role in all our daily lives. It allowed for communication between loved ones who could no longer meet physically, and it played a role in distance learning and telecommuting. It was also crucial for spreading health information and safety protocols to a dispersed population, as well as providing remote doctor/patient communication. This was true in Africa as much as anywhere else.

There are several ways telecom advances can prove advantageous in Africa, both to combat the further spread of the COVID-19 virus as well as to recharge the economy and even spur it to greater heights than before the outbreak.

First, telecom is necessary to support digital healthcare, including mobile medical stations and broadcasting of health protocols. A strong telecom system also allows workers and students to telecommute when necessary to maintain social distancing to impede the transmission in offices and schools. In addition, migrant workers had trouble sending money to their families in Africa during COVID-19. Telecom can make this much easier, with infrastructure that allows for better transfer of migrant workers’ remittances.

One example of how telecom in Africa can be improved is provided by Supersonic via MTN, the largest operator in Africa. They are providing wireless broadband connectivity across the continent. Wireless broadband offers bandwidth comparable to fiber-to-the-home, but with far less infrastructure required to connect homes to the network, a huge bonus in a place like Africa, where laying new infrastructure is the biggest challenge.

This will be especially useful in remote areas. One or two towers can supply connectivity for an entire village at exceptionally high speeds. Moreover, by using fixed wireless service, expensive cable is not needed to reach the hinterlands.

Ethernity Networks produces FPGA systems-on-chip that enable such technology. This includes traffic management with over-the-air congestion control and IPSec encryption of the tunnel between the radio and the rest of the network, as well as other required telecom features. FPGAs are ideal for fixed wireless access because of their programmability, even after they have been field-deployed. This enables the unit to be improved from version to version without needing to physically replace components, which can be especially challenging in remote African areas.

COVID-19 has left its mark across the globe. As we begin to recover in fits and starts, it is crucial to establish a strong telecommunications backbone in Africa, both to help it recover financially and to prepare it for any future crises. A strong and vibrant telecom system can be used to spread accurate health information while allowing the economy to keep moving. With technologies like those provided by Ethernity, an advanced telecommunications system throughout the continent can ensure that Africa is well prepared for the post-COVID world.

By Brian Klaff

 

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Ethernity Networks’ Unique DU Proposition https://ethernitynet.com/ethernitys-unique-du-proposition/ Tue, 13 Jul 2021 12:04:34 +0000 https://ethernitynet.com/?p=37246

When Ethernity announced its 5G DU Aggregation and vRouter solution in October 2020, we knew it was a gamechanger for the Open RAN market.  It offered Open RAN network builders the ability to transfer timing to Radio Units (RU) and made it possible to aggregate several Distributed Units (DU) on the same site to further increase the power to aggregate data as it arrived from the RUs.

Moreover, thanks to Ethernity’s unique Router-on-NIC feature, it embedded MEF 3.0-compliant Carrier Ethernet services, it allowed better DU network control for a centralized router, and, in certain deployments, it allowed the use of the Ethernity SmartNIC and software stack as the actual Cell Site Router (CSR).  Thus, the data could be routed toward the Centralized Units (CUs) directly within the DU itself, eliminating the need for external CSRs attached to the DU.

This solution is so remarkably groundbreaking that it earned a shortlist nomination for a GLOMO Award from the GSMA.

The question of whether Open RAN will actually occur or whether the mobile network will continue to be dominated by end-to-end monolithic network suppliers is still relevant. But recently, we have seen larger semiconductor companies, like Qualcomm, Nvidia, and Intel, presenting roadmap plans to develop ASICs for DU that support the Open RAN network model framework. This is an encouraging sign for the market potential of disaggregated Open RAN products and solutions.

The planned ASIC-based fronthaul cards support certain fixed functionality for Layer 1 processing, fronthaul aggregation, and sync, but they leave the L2/L3 functions that are at the heart of Ethernity’s domain for further innovation and virtualization. This is a positive development that will further reduce the cost of Open RAN so that it is economically viable for operator deployment compared to the current monolithic mobile network.

However, beyond the handling of fronthaul traffic and Layer 1 processing (which can be handled by ASICs), a DU must also connect to the midhaul with support for Carrier Ethernet functions (such as OAM and BFD), aggregate traffic from other DUs at the same location, and extract timing information from the midhaul network to drive that information to RUs and other DUs. These advanced functions are supported by Ethernity’s programmable SmartNIC but are not part of the ASIC offering. The ASIC-based cards serve a vital role, but they cannot offer the advanced networking and critical features that operators value when building their networks and that Ethernity’s ACE-NIC100 provides for midhaul. And that is before you add in the routing that Ethernity embeds into its FPGA NIC and applies to the midhaul connection between the DU and the various CUs spread across the Open RAN network.

Moreover, Ethernity proposes its vRouter offload to add secure tunnels from the DU to the CU by utilizing the security functionality available within the ENET Flow Processor engine suite.

A notable element in Ethernity’s FPGA SmartNIC for DU is the ability to support 12 Ethernet ports (25G/10G or GbE) that can utilize our new patented wireless bonding technology to implement microwave aggregation on the ACE-NIC100 within the DU. This implementation is essential for microwave connectivity, easing deployment of Open RAN wireless connectivity.

Why add another external box that handles all the microwave connections and networking and only send the data to the DU thereafter?  It can simply be embedded into Ethernity’s FPGA SmartNIC.

Ethernity’s DU solution provides the ability to aggregate the microwave links from multiple RUs, cascades multiple DUs, adds Carrier Ethernet switching with all its advanced features, and offers a router directly within the DU.

Let’s even go one step further… The CU aggregates multiple DUs and then must handle up to 100G of IPSec before it can send the data onward toward the network core. But why handle all of that security there, when it’s possible to distribute the security across the many DUs?

Ethernity offers this distributed security offload by offering IPSec as one of its many programmable features for the ACE-NIC100 within its DU solution. ACE-NICs can perform IPSec operations on the data within the DUs, offloading the functionality from the CUs and easing potential bottlenecks in the data flow.

By adding extra networking and security within the DU, Ethernity makes Open RAN easier for operators to deploy. By enabling network builders to customize the features on top of their standard DU offering, there is freedom of choice within the platform.

Ultimately, an OEM or system integrator can opt to use only the simple fronthaul NICs, but then the system will require the same old external devices to handle the Carrier Ethernet switching, the routing, the microwave aggregation, and the crypto. In other words, there is no real Open RAN in such a system. But with Ethernity’s ACE-NIC added into the DU server, all those external devices are now incorporated into a value-added system that offers unprecedented agility and true savings to the operators.

Another example of this is the OpenSoftHaul project sponsored by TIP, which is advocating for a disaggregated white box Indoor Unit (IDU), using wireless backhaul. Ethernity’s ACE-NIC offering embeds the IDU functions with the addition of Layer 1 bonding to provide further savings for the operator, and can be used in conjunction with our Wireless Backhaul solution, which is based on using our Universal Edge Platform devices as an aggregation point.

That freedom of choice is the very foundation of disaggregated networking: the ability to use interoperable best-in-class products and solutions and avoid vendor lock-in, thereby gaining agility without compromising on performance.

This is the unique proposition of a truly programmable solution for networking and security. This is the unique advantage offered by Ethernity.

By Brian Klaff

 

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