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What is the strategy for D-Links green push?
For us the strategy is simpledeliver what the customer wants. Take the
instance of the latest launch of Green Ethernet. It not only helps the
environment by consuming less power, but also saves money. Consider it from the
perspective of rural consumers, where the power is erratic and switches are
often run on UPS. These new switches, since they consume significantly less
amount of energy, give you a longer runtime. It is also useful to corporates and
consumers that are conscious of their social responsibility and are committed to
help the environment. At the end of the day, it is not only about going green,
but also saving the greenback.
Usually, green products are priced significantly higher than the average
products. Is that the case with Green Ethernet switches?
Usually that is the case. But the D-Link Green Ethernet switches are priced
only 20% more than normal switches. We are also hopeful that as the volumes
pickup, the cost will come down to more or less the same levels.
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| Jayesh Kotak, VP, Product Management, D-Link India |
What are the other green aspects you are working on?
We are looking at the issue holistically. Thus the product is RoHS compliant
and thus no lethal substance has been used in manufacturing. Even the packaging
is made from recyclable materials.
| D-Links
Green Ethernet Switch |
| The first green
Ethernet standard is not expected until 2012; the IEEE 802.3. For now,
however, D-Link has a global first: its green Ethernet technology, as seen
in products like this 5-port Gigabit Desktop Switch, aimed at SMBs. Such a
switch saves up to 44% of idle-time power (when the computers are off; the
switches and routers are always left on). It even saves up to 27% power when
in operation. (These are company-supplied figures.)
So for an initial price premium of about 15-20%
(expected to come down after production volume ramps up), D-Link says you
can save 30 to 40% of the power your switches consume. Planned together with
lower power devices (such as LCDs instead of TFTs) that can also help cut
down your capex cost of UPS backup capacity. (And all that also cuts down
heat, and thus air-con capacitysaving you on generator capacity.)
How does such a Green Ethernet product
work? It senses if the PC connected to a given port is on or off, by pinging
it, and if it finds the PC is off, it drops that port to a low-power standby
mode. And from the ping response, it also auto-senses the length of the
cable to the PC, and automatically drops the power level if the distance is
less. Normal switches keep all ports at maximum power, to allow variable
cable lengths up to 20 meters.
Does all ths on-the-fly power efficiency
affect performance? Dataquest asked CyberMedia Labs to test the 5-port
gigabit desktop switch from D-Links Green Ethernet series: this is targeted
at SMBs. This ultra-compact switch required no set up at all: it was plugn
play all the way, supporting 10, 100 or 1,000 Mbps networks, and can run in
half and full duplex mode. A cable diagnostic feature checks if the cable
connected is good, saving on troubleshooting time: an amber light shows a
cable fault on the corresponding ports LED.
Our lab test found network performance very
good (TCP throughput at 727 Mbps, UDP at 255 Mbps, and 1 ms response, on the
Qcheck benchmark with two PCs connected), which are really good scores. 1 GB
of data went through in 189 sec, which is fast. So its green, quick, and
costs just a bit more than a normal gigabit switch. Good going. (D-Link
5-port green-ethernet gigabit switch: Rs 3,910. www.dlink.co.in, sales@dlink.co.in) |
Shashwat DC
shashwatc@cybermedia.co.in Page(s) 1
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