October, 2014

MPLS Based Metro Ethernet Networks

Introduction

This presentation outlines an overview of Traditional Metro

Ethernet networks in contrast to MPLS based Metro

Ethernet in a WAN environment.

What is Metro Ethernet?

• “… generally defined as the network that bridges or connects

geographically separated enterprise LANs while also

connecting across the WAN or backbone networks that are

generally owned by service providers. The Metro Ethernet

Networks provide connectivity services across Metropolitan

area, utilising Ethernet as the core protocol and enabling

broadband applications” – Source: Metro Ethernet Forum

What is Metro Ethernet?[Cont’d]

• A metropolitan-area Ethernet, Ethernet MAN, or metro

Ethernet network is a metropolitan area network (MAN) that

is based on Ethernet standards. It is commonly used to

connect subscribers to a larger service network or the

Internet. – Source: Wikipedia

What is Metro Ethernet?[Cont’d]

• The Metro Ethernet Forum [MEF] often describes

Metro-E as Carrier Grade Ethernet NetworksThe MEF, is the defining body for Carrier Ethernet, a global industry alliance comprising more than

220 organizations including telecommunications service providers, network equipment/software

manufacturers, semiconductors vendors and testing organizations.

The MEF’s mission is to accelerate the worldwide adoption of Carrier-class Ethernet networks and

services.

The Ethernet Overview

• Ethernet was initially developed as a LAN standard for

connecting at 10 Mbps speeds but has subsequently been

upgraded to offer 100 Mbps, 1Gbps, and now 100Gbps

speeds over both copper and Fibre mediums.

• Ethernet is one of the most significant disruptive innovations

of this generation—and has now evolved from Local Area

Networks (LANs) to the Metro Area Network (MAN).

Attributes of Metro/Carrier Ethernet

• Carrier Grade Ethernet, or Carrier Ethernet, is a ubiquitous,

standardized service defined by five attributes

1. Standardized services enable end users and service

providers to co-ordinate in order to achieve data

connectivity based on Carrier Ethernet between multiple end

user sites as required by organizations around the globe.

Attributes of Metro/Carrier Ethernet [Cont’d]

2. Scalability enables the data connectivity of any number of

multiple end user sites over any distance, whether it be metro,

regional, national or intercontinental using Carrier Ethernet.

Scalability of bandwidth from 1Mbps to 10Gbps and beyond,

in granular increments

3. Reliability enables end users to rely on Carrier Ethernet to run

their business and mission critical applications.

Attributes of Metro/Carrier Ethernet [Cont’d]

4. Service management enables service providers to rollout,

maintain and troubleshoot data connectivity services based

on Carrier Ethernet in a cost effective and timely manner.

5. Quality of Service enables the use of a single network to run

multiple services to multiple end-users running a wide variety

of applications with different bandwidth and latency

requirements - all by using Carrier Ethernet

Other Features of Metro-E

• Metro Ethernet services can be delivered not only over

traditional (native) Ethernet-based networks but can also

over other transport technologies. Examples of underlying

transport

• MPLS-based Layer 2 Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

• IEEE 802.1ad Provider Bridges [VLAN Stacking “Q-in-Q”]

• Ethernet over SONET/SDH [EoS]

MSO/ Cable COAX

Direct Fiber

WDM Fiber

DS3/E3

Bonded Copper

Bonded T1/E1

Carrier 2

TDM

Ethernet

EthernetEthernet

Ethernet

EthernetEthernet

Ethernet

Direct Fiber

IEEE 802.3z, ae, G.8031, etc.

SONET/ SDH

PON Fiber

EthernetEthernet

Ethernet

Ethernet over Packet Wireless G.8032 Ethernet

Ring

Ethernet

Carrier 1

UNI ENNI

Carrier Ethernet Delivered over diverse protocols

Fig 1: MEFs idea of Ethernet delivered via diverse protocols

…. then, what is MPLS?

What is MPLS?

• Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a mechanism in

high-performance telecommunications networks that

directs data from one network node to the next based

on short path labels rather than long network addresses,

avoiding complex lookups in a routing table. The labels

identify virtual links (paths) between distant nodes rather

than endpoints. – Source: Wikipedia.

….so, why should you care?

COMPANY A

IBADANCOMPANY A

DEDICATED LEASED CIRCUIT

VPN over leased lines

OREGUN, LAGOS

COMPANY AAGBARA

VPN over the Internet

COMPANY AOREGUN, LAGOS

IBADANCOMPANY A

COMPANY AAGBARA

VPN with MPLS

MPLS SP

COMPANY AOREGUN, LAGOS

IBADANCOMPANY A

COMPANY AAGBARA

MPLS Routers Terminologies

PE

P

PE

PE

PE

P

P P

CE

CE

CECE router ( customer edge router ) P (provider) routers PE (provider edge) routers

CE

MPLS Routers Terminologies cont’d

• A CE Router [Customer Edge Router]

• Its a router located on the customer premises that

provides an interface between the customer's LAN and

the provider's core network.

MPLS Routers Terminologies cont’d

• PE [Provider Edge]

• Routers sit at the edge of the network. CE routers

connect to PE routers and PE routers connect to the

core.

MPLS Routers Terminologies cont’d

• The P router [Provider Router]

• These are the core routers in the provider network that is

not connected to any customer site.

Traditional Metro Ethernet Networks

Traditional methods of Ethernet delivery:

• Services identified by VLAN IDs/physical ports

• VLAN IDs globally significant

• Resiliency provided using variants of the Spanning Tree

Protocol (…but could be a whole lot of problems sometimes)

Delivering Ethernet Over MPLS

MPLS Layer 2 VPN is known by another name as Virtual Private LAN

Service – [VPLS].

It creates a Layer 2 broadcast domain that is fully capable of learning

and forwarding on Ethernet MAC addresses and that is closed to a

given set of users.

MPLSL2VPN Brief Overview

Delivering Ethernet Over MPLS Cont’d

Ethernet delivery over MPLS:

• Services identified with the use of Labels in the SP cloud

• The Labels are just IDs and are locally significant

• Resiliency is also by redundant uplinks. [No spanning tree]

MPLSL2VPNs [VPLS] Benefits

Benefits for the customer:

Simplicity

Behaves like an “Ethernet switch in the SP cloud”

No routing interaction with the provider

Clear demarcation between subscriber and provider

Scalable

Provider configures site connectivity only Hierarchy

Summary

• Ethernet Services are in a period of tremendous

growth with great revenue potential for service

providers

• The Metro Ethernet Forum has standardised

Ethernet services and continues to enhance

specifications

Summary cont’d

• Traditional forms of Ethernet delivery are no longer suitable

for the delivery of “carrier-grade” Ethernet services

• MPLS provides a proven platform for the delivery of

scalable, flexible, feature-rich Ethernet services using the

same infrastructure used to deliver other MPLS-based

services

Questions?

Other References

• Asia Pacific Regional Internet Conference on Operational Technologies [APRICOT]

Alcatel Lucent MPLS presentation 2012 –By Paresh Khatri

• Cisco Solutions

• The MetroEthernet Forum

Presenters

• David Olayinka Mosaku

• Monday Aliku

Thank You