A Carrier Ethernet service:
- Delivers Ethernet frames between different locations in any part of the world at speeds between 1 Mbps and 100 Gbps
- Differentiates between traffic of multiple end-users running over a single network
- Runs over multiple types of infrastructure and transport technologies
- Coexists with existing Layer 2 and Layer 3 solutions while taking advantage of the huge worldwide Ethernet installed base
Is Ethernet cable the same as broadband?
“Broadband” is a generic term for any high-speed, high-bandwidth network connection. Ethernet, WiFi, LTE, microwave, fiber optic, satellite link—all those are different types of broadband connections. Ethernet is a specific type of hard-wired network connection. It usually (though not always) uses cables that look like this:
What exactly is an Ethernet cable?
An Ethernet cable is a type of network cable that will connect your devices to your internet provider network data to supply the internet. The devices that the cable connects to include your laptops, PCs, network switch, and router. The Ethernet cables can be long or short but generally have cable lengths of up to 6 feet long.
What is a virtual private LAN?
Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) is a way to provide Ethernet-based multipoint to multipoint communication over IP or MPLS networks. It allows geographically dispersed sites to share an Ethernet broadcast domain by connecting sites through pseudowires.The term sites includes multiplicities of both servers and clients. The technologies that can be used as pseudo-wire can be Ethernet over MPLS ...
What is the bandwidth of Ethernet?
Over the course of its history, Ethernet data transfer rates have been increased from the original 2.94 megabits per second (Mbit/s) to the latest 400 gigabits per second (Gbit/s). The Ethernet standards comprise several wiring and signaling variants of the OSI physical layer in use with Ethernet.
What is Carrier Ethernet technology?
Carrier Ethernet is an application of Ethernet technology that allows network providers to offer Ethernet services to their customers and to use Ethernet technology. It enables Internet access and communication among local area networks (LANs) of business, academic, private and government organizations.
What is the difference between Ethernet and Carrier Ethernet?
In the office, Ethernet connects computers to servers and the internet. Essentially, Ethernet is a LAN that connects devices via physical cables and carries data over a limited distance. Carrier Ethernet, on the other hand, is a set of services that carry data over long distances.
What are Ethernet services?
Ethernet Services are Services which function as a Local Area Network (“LAN”) interconnection. Ethernet services are used to connect more than one Exelon site utilizing native ethernet format, i.e., LAN to LAN connections, without the use of overlying SONET or ATM technologies.
What is the type of communication in Carrier Ethernet?
EVP-LAN enables any-to-any communication between all customer locations associated with the customer's Ethernet Virtual Connections (EVC). It is categorized as an E-LAN service type, with an expectation of low Frame Delay, Frame Delay Variation and Frame Loss Ratio.
What is Carrier Internet?
A telecommunications carrier network is the collection of devices and underlying infrastructure used to transmit data from one location to another. The data transmission service is sold as a commodity, either directly to the end user or to a reseller.
What is next generation Carrier Ethernet?
The Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) announced Carrier Ethernet 2.0 as the next generation in the evolution of Ethernet services. This next generation is defined as “networks and services that enable multiple Classes of Service and manageability over interconnected provider networks”.
Is AT&T an Ethernet?
All AT&T gateways have several available Ethernet ports. These are yellow ports found on the back of your gateway. Simply connect an Ethernet cable from the Ethernet port on your computer to any available Ethernet port on the back of your gateway.
Do you pay for Ethernet?
The cost of installing ethernet cable in a house ranges from $0.25 to $0.70 per foot of cable. The CAT family of cables has several types, with CAT-5, CAT-6 and CAT-7 being the most popular at this time. These types are available as unshielded twisted pair (UTP) and shielded twisted pair (STP).
What is an Ethernet and what does it do?
Ethernet is the traditional technology for connecting devices in a wired local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN). It enables devices to communicate with each other via a protocol, which is a set of rules or common network language.
Is MPLS Carrier Ethernet?
While both Ethernet and MPLS are commonly used to carry IP, there are many fundamental protocol differences between the two. Ethernet is defined from Layer 0 to Layer 2 (but may run over MPLS), while MPLS always requires a foreign server layer to transport it (which may be Ethernet).
What is an EPL service?
Service Description Comcast Ethernet Private Line (EPL) Service is a reliable, more flexible, higher bandwidth alternative to traditional TDM Private Lines. The service enables customers to connect their Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) using a lower cost Ethernet interface.
How does Ethernet private line work?
An Ethernet Private Line service is a private data connection securely connecting two or more locations for private data services. An Ethernet private line circuit is a closed network data transport service which does not traverse the public Internet and is inherently secure with no data encryption needed.
Is MPLS Carrier Ethernet?
While both Ethernet and MPLS are commonly used to carry IP, there are many fundamental protocol differences between the two. Ethernet is defined from Layer 0 to Layer 2 (but may run over MPLS), while MPLS always requires a foreign server layer to transport it (which may be Ethernet).
What is traditional Ethernet?
Ethernet is the traditional technology for connecting devices in a wired local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN). It enables devices to communicate with each other via a protocol, which is a set of rules or common network language.
Why is Ethernet limited to 100 meters?
The maximum length of a Cat5e or Cat6 Ethernet cable is about 295 ft. (90 m), plus up to 16 ft. (5 m) of patch cable on either end, for a total of 328 feet or 100 meters. Beyond this, the signal begins to degrade, reducing the speed and reliability of the connection.
What is Metro Ethernet fiber?
What is Metro Fiber Ethernet? Metro Ethernet, or “Metro-E” for short, is a high capacity broadband service offered to businesses around the world using a fiber optic cable for transit between the carrier network and the end-user.
What are the characteristics of CE?
CE relies on five key attributes: 1 Standards-based services result in predictable and repeatable use of CE. CE is built on IEEE standards to define physical details such as line rates, encodings, and packet sizes, and MEF standards that define the services and their attributes. 2 Scalability supports services for a large variety of uses (business, residential, mobile) over long distances that stretch beyond the LAN—at increasingly faster data rates.
Why is OAM important?
This is especially important because Ethernet services traversing the WAN can span hundreds to thousands of kilometers.
What are the attributes of CE?
CE relies on five key attributes: Standards-based services result in predictable and repeatable use of CE. CE is built on IEEE standards to define physical details such as line rates, encodings, and packet sizes, and MEF standards that define the services and their attributes.
Why is it important to have hierarchies of service levels?
Quality of service: Hierarchies of service levels enable the delivery of appropriate resources for multiple services and applications.
What is service management?
Service management provides the capability to visualize the infrastructure, roll out services, diagnose problem areas, and carry out the day-to-day management of a network.
What is reliability in network?
Reliability means the network can detect and recover from failures and meet the most demanding availability requirements. Quality of service enables a wide range of performance metrics required to fulfill Service-Level Agreements (SLAs), including applications such as voice, video, data, and mobile services.
Which technologies address the most scalability challenges at the protocol level?
Scale: Technologies such as QinQ, PBB, hier archical QoS, and connection- oriented Ethernet address most of the scalability challenges at the protocol level with robust and future-proof approaches.
What is EVP LAN?
Ethernet Virtual Private LAN (EVP-LAN) is a multipoint-to-multipoint Ethernet Virtual Connection defined by the MEF — a Carrier Ethernet equivalent of Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) or Transparent LAN Services. EVP-LAN enables any-to-any communication between all customer locations associated with the customer's Ethernet Virtual Connections (EVC). It is categorized as an E-LAN service type, with an expectation of low Frame Delay, Frame Delay Variation and Frame Loss Ratio. Service multiplexing is allowed at the UNI and EVPL and EVP-LAN service types may share the same port. CE-VLAN IDs are maintained across the network.
Why is EPL used?
Due to a high degree of transparency, EPL is often used to provide point-to-point transparent LAN service (TLS), where the service frame's header and payload are identical at both the source and destination UNI. Some implementations tunnel most Ethernet Layer 2 control protocols (L2CPs) except for some link-layer L2CPs such as IEEE 802.3x pause frames .
What is an Ethernet virtual tree?
Ethernet Virtual Private Tree or E-Tree: a multipoint service connecting one or more roots and a set of leaves, but preventing inter-leaf communication.
What is an EPL?
Ethernet private line ( EPL) and Ethernet virtual private line ( EVPL) are data services defined by the MEF. EPL provides a point-to-point Ethernet virtual connection (EVC) between a pair of dedicated user–network interfaces (UNIs), with a high degree of transparency . EVPL provides a point-to-point or point-to-multipoint connection between a pair of UNIs.
What is a point to point Ethernet link?
Point-to-point Ethernet links are carried over SDH/SONET networks, making use of virtual concatenation (ITU -T G.707) and LCAS (Link Capacity Adjustment Scheme - ITU-T G.7042) to create an appropriate size carrier bundle, of the Generic Framing Procedure of SDH equipment, and takes advantage of the management and recovery features of SDH to provide high availability and resilience to failures.
What is carrier Ethernet?
Carrier Ethernet demarcation is a key element in Carrier Ethernet services and transport networks for business, wholesale and mobile backhaul applications, as it enables service providers to extend their control over the entire service path, starting from the hand off points. This is achieved by connecting customer premises equipment (CPE) to the network with provider-owned demarcation devices that are deployed at customer locations, thereby enabling a clear separation between the user and provider networks.
Why is Ethernet the best for a metro area network?
Proponents of Carrier-Class Ethernet argue Ethernet is the best for Metro Area Networks because all data traffic originates as Ethernet. Ethernet's ubiquitous presence in the LANs worldwide drives down the cost of Ethernet as a technology.
Why is OAM important?
These are critical for delivering on the service management attribute of CE. This is especially important because Ethernet services traversing the WAN can span hundreds to thousands of kilometers.
What is Ethernet power?
Power over Ethernet: Using an Ethernet cable to provide power to peripheral devices like printers and scanners originated in consumer products. Fairly quickly, enterprises and carriers started using it in their networks as well. Because power and data are carried in the same cable, there’s no need for the expense of a dedicated power source for cameras, wireless radios, and similar devices. IEEE 802.3at, commonly known as PoE+, provides for up to 25 watts of power at distances up to 100 meters.
What is SDN in a data center?
Software-Defined Networks (S DN) and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV): The advent of SDN has created new opportunities to rethink the way networks are operated, especially in data center contexts. Network operators have proposed new centralized control mechanisms to more efficiently and cost-effectively run their networks. With NFV, formerly ‘appliance’-based applications (such as routers, firewalls, and load balancers) can be implemented in software (or ‘virtually’) and deployed in a data center. This obviously saves the costs associated with hardware, deployment and ongoing maintenance. Both enterprises and carriers are poised to use SDN and NFV to not only save money, but also innovate at an unprecedented level in the near future.
What is the standard for LAN backbone?
Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) interfaces are widely deployed in PCs and servers, and 10 Gb/s is quickly becoming the standard for LAN backbones. Don’t look now, but 100Gb/s services aren’t far behind.
What is carrier Ethernet?
Carrier Ethernet (CE) builds on all the advantages of Ethernet by providing a flexible framework, universal frame format, simple design, and enhanced Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) capabilities for high-performance networks ideally suited for both enterprises and carriers. And like Ethernet, the growing adoption of Carrier Ethernet is changing how networks are built.
What is CE in mobile?
Precise Timing Distribution: Beginning with the transition from 2G to 3G mobile networks, CE became a viable and increasingly popular approach for connecting cell towers to mobile telephone switching offices. Earlier backhaul technologies such as SONET/SDH provided both connectivity and precise timing references to the base stations, which in turn used the information to synchronize key functions such as call handoffs between towers and spectrum coordination between calls. As backhaul moved to Ethernet, the synchronization information had to be distributed by other means. GPS was often used but can be problematic and costly in some environments. Synchronous Ethernet, or SyncE, along with ITU-T 1588v2 technology now delivers the same capability over the Ethernet network itself.
What is CE in MEF?
CE has many standards and terms defined by the MEF as a set of building blocks that are then used to assemble a variety of CE services. By using these building blocks, service providers can construct a rich set of CE services that can be understood by buyers and sellers alike using consistent and standardized nomenclature.
What Can I Achieve with MEF 3.0 Carrier Ethernet?
Whether you are upgrading your Ethernet services to take advantage of the latest enhancements, including the ability to orchestrate the buying/selling and delivery of Ethernet services, or getting into the Ethernet services business for the first time, MEF 3.0 Carrier Ethernet is your standard for success.
What is MEF 3.0?
MEF 3.0 Carrier Ethernet is the culmination of decades of industry collaboration, taking the trifecta of ubiquity, value, and simplicity from the LAN into the WAN. Now in its 3rd generation, MEF’s Carrier Ethernet service standards provide the dynamic, performance-enhanced, orchestrated, and high-speed connectivity required by the modern enterprise, cloud, and mobile service provider.
What is Access E Line?
Access E-Line services enable point-to-point connectivity to extend a service to off-net subscriber sites.
What is an e tree?
An E-Tree is a rooted multipoint service that enables sites with hub and spoke multipoint connectivity.
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How many EVC types are there?
There are three EVC -based (i.e. UNI -to-UNI) service types that describe the basic connectivity options of a Carrier Ethernet subscriber service:
What is carrier Ethernet?
A Carrier Ethernet service: 1 Delivers Ethernet frames between different locations in any part of the world at speeds between 1 Mbps and 100 Gbps 2 Differentiates between traffic of multiple end-users running over a single network 3 Runs over multiple types of infrastructure and transport technologies 4 Coexists with existing Layer 2 and Layer 3 solutions while taking advantage of the huge worldwide Ethernet installed base
When is E-LAN service appropriate?
E-LAN services are appropriate when all UNIs can generate traffic towards any other UNI and all UNIs belong to the same administrative domain - in other words when traffic separation between different organizations sharing the service is not required.
What is Carrier Ethernet?
Ethernet has long been accepted as an inexpensive, scalable data-networking solution in LAN environments; however, the stringent quality of service (QoS) expectations of today’s service offering require that service providers find solutions to tap into the cost-effectiveness of Ethernet without sacrificing the benefits of connection-oriented (albeit it costly) time-domain multiplexing (TDM) solutions such as SONET/SDH.
What is Ethernet private line?
The Ethernet private line is the simplest E-Line service to deploy.
Why is carrier Ethernet important?
Another major benefit of Carrier Ethernet is performance. That is, in part because inherently, Ethernet networks require less processing to operate and manage.
What is EVPLAN in TLS?
Regardless of how it is termed, the EVPLAN is a network service providing layer 2 multipoint connectivity between Ethernet-edge devices . Customer separation is accomplished via encapsulation using VLAN tags or other encapsulation technologies such as MPLS. The EVPLAN is a cost-effective service for the service provider, as it can leverage shared transmission bandwidth in the network. However, because it is a multipoint service, it can be complex to administer. The operator must implement protection, bandwidth profiles, congestion management, buffering, etc.—these are much more complex to implement in EVPLANs when compared to P2P services.
Why is Ethernet testing important?
Comprehensive Ethernet testing immediately at service turn-up is now essential in order to ensure service quality and increase customer satisfaction. Customer service level agreement (SLAs) dictate certain performance criteria that must be met, with the majority documenting network availability and mean-time-to-repair (MTTR) values, which are easily verified. However, Ethernet performance criteria are more difficult to prove, and demonstrating performance availability, transmission delay, link burstability and service integrity cannot be done precisely with only a single ping command. Carrier Ethernet, therefore, is the extension of Ethernet that enables service providers to provide premium Ethernet services.
What is fiber used for?
Since fiber can carry much more information than copper, carrier Ethernet service providers typically use fiber to transport high-speed traffic (usually 1 Gbit/s or more) over long distances or within the network core. Fiber is used with SONET/SDH, dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) or optical transport networks (OTNs).
Why is copper used in Ethernet?
To this day, copper cabling (i.e., insulated twisted copper wires) is still one of the most widely used media in Carrier Ethernet due to its existing vast deployment and its relatively low cost. It is almost everywhere as it was the media of choice to deliver plain old telephony service (POTS) to homes and businesses. Leveraging this infrastructure, service providers can avoid building out new and costly networks, as they address markets with lower-rate traffic of up to 1 Gigabit per second (Gbit/s) and begin to carry higher-speed traffic (in some cases up to 10 Gbit/s). Ethernet’s inherent scalability gives carriers a highly flexible platform for delivering incremental services to smaller enterprises, branch offices, cellular towers and other sites. However, copper is subject to both electromagnetic interference and cross-talk, which can negatively affect the reliable transfer of digital data—and at high speeds, the problem is even worse.
Why use Ethernet to Ethernet?
An Ethernet to Ethernet connection allows for flexibility in the workplace. There is no need to connect to a power adapter and you can place your network anywhere which will help you to organize your telecom equipment including VoIP phones, IP cameras and wireless access points. This allows for a more efficient network set up and better network performance. Network installations are fast and easy which is the first way you save big with an Ethernet to Ethernet connection. Another way you save money is by connecting right to your IP provider. You no longer have to go through a 3 rd party for internet which will slash your costs drastically.
Is Ethernet to Ethernet a good idea?
There are numerous benefits of using this type of network connection, and yes, cost is one of them . Any sized business will benefit greatly by incorporating an Ethernet to Ethernet connection into their workplace.
Certifying Carrier Ethernet Services
Orchestration-ready MEF 3.0 Certified Carrier Ethernet (CE) services provide the highest level of performance, assurance, and agility available in the $60+ billion global CE services market.
Learn More about Carrier Ethernet Certification
MEF's Carrier Ethernet certification has enabled the accelerated adoption and growth behind the $60 Billion dollar Carrier Ethernet services market by ensuring the delivered services and technology comply with the industry best-practices inherent in MEF's Carrier Ethernet standards.
What Can I Achieve with MEF 3.0 CE Certifications for Services?
MEF 3.0 CE Certification for Services validates performance excellence, provides competitive differentiation, and enables service providers to establish a standards-compliant presence within a federation of automated networks.
Carrier Ethernet Versus Ethernet
- The primary attributes of Carrier Ethernet that differentiates it from Ethernet are − 1. A carrier Ethernet network provides service to many organizations, while an Ethernet LAN renders service to only one organization. 2. A carrier Ethernet network covers a wide area and so spans outside a single building. On the other hand, an Ethernet serving a LAN is typically located within a buildin…
Features of Carrier Ethernet
- The five distinguishing features of carrier Ethernet are − 1. Standardized Services− Carrier Ethernet provides standardized, ubiquitous services which are Ethernet Virtual Private Line, Ethernet Virtual Private LAN, and Ethernet Virtual Private Tree. 2. Reliability− It is mandatory that carrier Ethernet can detect faults and recover from them without impacting users. Reliability is a…
Services Provided by Carrier Ethernet
- In order to create a market, carrier Ethernet has classified some standardized services, which are as follows − 1. Ethernet Virtual Private Line or E-Line (EVPL)− This provides point to point connection between two carrier Ethernet customers. It provides high transparency, low latency, and reduced frame loss ratio. 2. Ethernet Virtual Private LAN o...
Overview
Carrier Ethernet is a marketing term for extensions to Ethernet for communications service providers that utilize Ethernet technology in their networks.
Carrier Ethernet services
To create a market in Ethernet services, it is necessary to clarify and standardise the services to be provided. Recognising this, the industry created the MEF. This played a key role in defining:
• Ethernet Virtual Private Line or E-Line: a service connecting two customer Ethernet ports over a WAN.
• Ethernet Virtual Private LAN or E-LAN: a multipoint service connecting a set of customer endpoints, giving the appearance to the customer of a bridged Ethernet networ…
To create a market in Ethernet services, it is necessary to clarify and standardise the services to be provided. Recognising this, the industry created the MEF. This played a key role in defining:
• Ethernet Virtual Private Line or E-Line: a service connecting two customer Ethernet ports over a WAN.
• Ethernet Virtual Private LAN or E-LAN: a multipoint service connecting a set of customer endpoints, giving the appearance to the customer of a bridged Ethernet network connecting the …
Background
Ethernet has a long history. It has become dominant in enterprise networks. This dominance has led to high production-volume components, which in turn have allowed extremely low cost per bit. Likewise, Ethernet has a long history of re-inventing itself. From the original copper coaxial cable format ("thicknet") it has extended its scope to nearly all copper, optical fiber and wireless physical media. Bit rates have continued to increase, traditionally growing tenfold each time a new rate is …
Transport of Ethernet services
The MEF does not specify how Ethernet services are to be provided in a carrier network. Despite the advantages described above, Ethernet has traditionally had a number of limitations in the WAN application. The "bridge" and "spanning tree" concepts described above do not scale to large international networks. Moreover, Ethernet has lacked some of the dependability features necessary in this application (in particular, mechanisms to isolate one customer's traffic from an…
Carrier Ethernet demarcation
Carrier Ethernet demarcation is a key element in Carrier Ethernet services and transport networks for business, wholesale and mobile backhaul applications, as it enables service providers to extend their control over the entire service path, starting from the hand off points. This is achieved by connecting customer premises equipment (CPE) to the network with provider-owned demarcation devices that are deployed at customer locations, thereby enabling a clear separatio…
Carrier Ethernet technologies
The industry has made a concerted effort to resolve the limitations of Ethernet in the WAN described above, so as to allow the use of "native" Ethernet technologies by network providers. The key roles have been played by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.1 and 802.3 standards committees. IEEE 802.1 has addressed the scalability and management issues in the standards for Provider Bridges (802.1ad) and Provider Backbone Bridges (802.1ah). …
See also
• 10PASS-TS (Ethernet over VDSL)
• Connection-oriented Ethernet
• Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM)
• IEEE 802.1ad VLAN stacking or Q-in-Q
External links
• Metro Ethernet Forum, Carrier Ethernet & CE 2.0
• "Metro Ethernet Services - A Technical Overview" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-05-05.
• "Carrier Ethernet 2.0" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-04-30. (1412 KiB)