DAILY NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR THE GLOBAL GRID COMMUNITY / MAY 19, 2003: VOL. 2 NO. 20    ( Table of Contents )

Breaking News - Networking:

Extreme Helps Integrates Ethernet Services over Metro Nets

Reinforcing its leadership position in building next-generation networks, Extreme Networks Inc is helping service providers and enterprises to deploy scalable, secure and differentiated Ethernet services over Metro networks. Extreme has integrated Virtual Private LAN Services (VPLS) and Hierarchical-Virtual Private LAN Services (H-VPLS) with its MPLS switching solution to establish Layer 2 VPN service capabilities.

Extreme Networks' Ethernet-based Metro network infrastructure allows service providers and enterprises to carry services over a resilient and scalable network, extending consistent performance between LANs and MANs. Extreme's MPLS and H-VPLS capabilities, integrated with its BlackDiamond and Alpine modular switching platforms, allow network operators to tunnel traditional Layer 2 circuits through redundant paths. This functionality provides a simple alternative to routed VPN services that require complex "IP-only" routing devices. Extreme's H-VPLS implementation supports an assortment of non-IP traffic types including Frame Relay, ATM, IPX and AppleTalk.

In addition to addressing Quality of Service (QoS) and Class of Service (CoS) for data traffic with its standards-based MPLS solution, Extreme Networks has integrated H-VPLS based on the Lasserre-V.Kompella draft release 4. The complete solution delivers interoperability and reliability with end-to-end connectivity checks between VPLS nodes. High availability networking is enabled with the use of hot standby redundant uplinks. Further benefits include network management that is tightly integrated with provisioning software easing the burden of service deployment. With Extreme's extensible MPLS architecture, Metro services can be scaled and delivered consistently on every switch port at Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet speeds.

Extreme's Next-Generation EAPS Improves Resiliency

Extreme Networks has pioneered resilient Ethernet Metro networks with its Ethernet Automatic Protection Switching (EAPS) technology. Extreme is now delivering the second generation of EAPS, version 2. EAPSv2 provides SONET-like resiliency with sub-50 millisecond failover on Ethernet-based ring networks. When EAPSv2 is combined with MPLS and H-VPLS capabilities, Metro services failover instantaneously should fiber be cut or interrupted.

Additionally, EAPSv2 enhances redundancy on the network by delivering the ability for multiple nodes to interconnect separate fiber rings. Layer 2 VPN services backed by EAPSv2 technology allows service providers and enterprises to simplify their configuration by eliminating the need for fast re-route capabilities.

Extreme First to Achieve Resilient Layer 2 VPNs at NetWorld+Interop's iLabs

At a recent industry demonstration at NetWorld+Interop's iLabs in Las Vegas, Extreme Networks was the first vendor to showcase resilient Layer 2 VPN capabilities via H-VPLS, supported with EAPSv2 technology. H-VPLS and EAPSv2 operated on the BlackDiamond switch in compliance with VPLS/H-VPLS standards. The solution was compatible with other vendor offerings included in the tests.

Summary of Accomplishments at iLabs:

• Extreme demonstrated a fully compliant H-VPLS solution based on the VPLS over MPLS IETF draft, revision 4. The BlackDiamond switch served as the Core Provider Edge Switch, interconnecting all participating vendor devices in a multipoint L2 VPN configuration.
• Extreme demonstrated backward compatibility with "Martini-draft" type L2 VPN services supporting vendors' "Martini-draft" type Tunnel VCs across the Core H-VPLS L2 VPN.
• circuit verification using MPLS OAM packets.
• Extreme demonstrated EAPSv2 resilient Metro Ethernet Rings utilizing both copper and optical Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces on the BlackDiamond switch.

"The delivery of improved network resiliency and Layer 2 VPN capabilities successfully demonstrated at NetWorld+Interop expands upon our offerings for Metro and enterprise campus networks," said Duncan Potter, vice president of marketing for Extreme Networks. "This continued innovation signifies the increasing value and functionality Extreme Networks is delivering for advanced Ethernet networks for the Metro and large enterprise markets."