To mark the event, computer-generated video footage illustrating the Big Bang was transmitted and projected onto a wall of 15 high-definition LCD screens. This demonstration was made possible by Extreme Networks' first standards-based 40 Gigabit Ethernet switch.

“The success of the demo would not have been possible without Extreme Networks’ Summit X650 switches,” commented Dr. Paul Wieling, head of SARA’s high-performance networking department. “Remote visualization of large volumes of distributed data is one of the main challenges for communicating data amounts exceeding one petabit. This test demonstrates for the first time how it is possible to achieve 40 Gigabit Ethernet speeds for long-distance data transmission using standards-based Ethernet switching.”.

The high-speed circuits used Extreme Networks VIM3-40G4X 40 Gigabit Ethernet modules, integrated with the Summit X650 switch. The switch was connected to CERN via a lane over the dark fiber connection between NetherLight in Amsterdam and CERNLight in Geneva. At CERN, a second Summit X650 switch transmitted the data to eight servers, which in turn projected it as video onto a wall of 15 high-definition screens. Each server generated two data streams at speeds of 2 GB per second to support two screens, resulting in a combined resolution of 12,800 x 4,800 pixels at a refresh rate of 22 frames per second.

The test involved a cosmological dataset, created in the Netherlands with the help of five supercomputers located around the world, including the Dutch National Supercomputer, Huygens, at SARA Computing and Network Services. This dataset was transformed into visual data using a rendering cluster of 16 servers. The data is currently stored on 32 SSD devices connected to a single streaming server located at SARA in Amsterdam.

“Extreme Networks is extremely proud to have provided our 40 GbE switching technology for such a prominent project as SARA and CERN,” said Paul Hooper, Chief Marketing Officer of Extreme Networks. “With the ever-increasing demand for bandwidth, Extreme Networks solutions deliver the performance, scalability, and reliability our customers worldwide expect. This installation is a prime example of how we can meet these expectations. Whether it’s imaging the Big Bang, X-rays of patients, or digital learning environments, Extreme Networks tackles challenges that other providers consider too difficult to address.”.

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