[159123] in North American Network Operators' Group
RE: why haven't ethernet connectors changed?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Brandt, Ralph)
Fri Dec 21 18:51:09 2012
Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2012 18:50:57 -0500
In-Reply-To: <2A76E400AC84B845AAC35AA19F8E7A5D0DB3E812@MUNEXBE1.medline.com>
From: "Brandt, Ralph" <ralph.brandt@pateam.com>
To: "Naslund, Steve" <SNaslund@medline.com>,
<nanog@nanog.org>
Errors-To: nanog-bounces+nanog.discuss=bloom-picayune.mit.edu@nanog.org
Steve, something I hadn't thought about is the fiber mess. I see that in
other areas as I mentioned in another answer.=20
In the fiber world it is a continuous
issue of hybrid patch cords dealing with ST,SC,LC and all the other
variants out there. It would be a huge nightmare if the same thing
happened with copper Ethernet.
Ralph Brandt
-----Original Message-----
From: Naslund, Steve [mailto:SNaslund@medline.com]=20
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2012 11:43 AM
To: nanog@nanog.org
Subject: RE: why haven't ethernet connectors changed?
Please, no connectors that do not lock into place. Is plugging in the
RJ-45 that much of a task? Most portable devices are going wireless in
any case so they are not an issue. The RJ-45 has worked OK for me. The
AUI connectors have a special place in networking hell. What an
incredibly horrible mechanical design they were? The flip side of the
question is why you think the RJ-45 should change. You could argue that
you don't usually need all eight wires but every time we tried that
argument someone came up with a compelling reason to use more wires. I
like that it is very standard. In the fiber world it is a continuous
issue of hybrid patch cords dealing with ST,SC,LC and all the other
variants out there. It would be a huge nightmare if the same thing
happened with copper Ethernet.
I am also not a huge fan of the USB connector because I have seen a lot
of those break and there is no positive retention. Magnetic is cute but
has no place in a datacenter and even with desktops I can picture a lot
of support calls because someone bumps a wire that knocks the mag
connector out of place. I really hate dongles of all types but I guess
you don't really have a choice with devices so physically thin that you
can't get the jack in there.
I think I will keep the RJ for now.
Steven Naslund
-----Original Message-----
From: Aled Morris [mailto:aledm@qix.co.uk]=20
Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 12:38 PM
To: Michael Thomas
Cc: NANOG list
Subject: Re: why haven't ethernet connectors changed?
On 20 December 2012 18:20, Michael Thomas <mike@mtcc.com> wrote
> ethernet
> connectors haven't changed that I'm aware in pretty much 25 years.
15-pin D-type AUI connectors with slide latches?
BNC for thinwire?
I do agree though, something more like mini-USB would be more
appropriate for home Ethernet use.
Aled
