So, is Google making Ethernet switches as reported by Nyquist Capital analyst and blogger Andrew Schmitt? Well, Google has 'not commented', but they have enough servers in their myriad data centres that need fast interconnects, so if it did approach the usual network vendors for a quote, one suspects the price was not right.

Why couldn’t these vendors do what would give them a staggering deal with Google? Schmitt suggests that it was lack of low cost kit available on today’s market. That says it all, some switch vendors, and they know who they are, only allow their own optical transceivers to be used with their switches - by 'allow' probably means voided warranty and support. Makes a nice little earner, as Arthur Daley would no doubt say. Of course Google's size means they can say, "Thanks, but no thanks - we’ll roll our own."

Of course, it begs the question, would they knock out a few extra for the market? Could be an even nicer little earner, especially if you check out research firm Infonetic's latest figures on the 10 gigabit Ethernet enterprise and service provider market which show 300,000 ports shipped in 2006 to over three million by 2010.

20 Nov 2007