MPLS Based Metro Ethernet

Networks
October, 2014

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?[Contd]

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?[Contd]

The Metro Ethernet Forum [MEF] often
describes Metro-E as Carrier Grade Ethernet
Networks
The 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 MEFs 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 generationand 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 [Contd]
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

Attributes of Metro/Carrier Ethernet

[Contd]

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 endusers 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-inQ]
Ethernet over SONET/SDH [EoS]

Carrier Ethernet Delivered over

diverse protocols
Direct Fiber

Ethernet

Ethernet over
Packet Wireless

G.8032
Ethernet
Ring

MSO/ Cable

Direct Fiber
IEEE 802.3z, ae,
G.8031, etc.
Ethernet

Ethernet

Ethernet

COAX

Bonded Copper
Carrier 1

Ethernet

SONET/ SDH
TDM
PON Fiber

Ethernet

WDM
Fiber

Carrier 2
DS3/E3

Bonded T1/E1
Ethernet
Ethernet

UNI

ENNI

Ethernet

Ethernet

Fig 1: MEFs idea of Ethernet delivered via diverse protocols

Ethernet

. 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?

VPN over leased lines

COMPANY A
AGBARA

DEDICATED LEASED CIRCUIT

COMPANY A
IBADAN

COMPANY A

OREGUN, LAGOS

VPN over the Internet

COMPANY A
AGBARA

COMPANY A
IBADAN

COMPANY A

OREGUN, LAGOS

VPN with MPLS

COMPANY A
AGBARA

MPLS SP
COMPANY A
IBADAN

COMPANY A

OREGUN, LAGOS

MPLS Routers Terminologies

CE

CE

CE

PE

PE
P

PE

CE router ( customer edge router )

P (provider) routers
PE (provider edge) routers

PE
CE

MPLS Routers Terminologies

contd
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

contd

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

contd
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

MPLSL2VPN Brief Overview
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.

Delivering Ethernet Over MPLS

Contd
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

contd

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