This is where the majority of large carriers are going:
http://metroethernetforum.org/carrier-ethernet/carrier-ethernet-services
If you are buying (or selling) services to any of the larger carriers
you are likely seeing MEF standards in use - Ethernet Virtual
Connections, NNI and UNI interfaces.
There are a lot of really nice features in MEF that allow you to sell
protocol independent Ethernet across your network or across multiple
networks. Something like a point to point where Time Warner is one end
and your customer is on the other end. Or a PMP type of arrangement
where 2 customers are on Comcast, 3 are on AT&T, and 4 are your wireless
customers. To the customer it just appears as if the 9 sites are
connected via an Ethernet switch and you don't care in the least what
addressing or protocols they run.
If you are selling to any of the cell carriers they expect MEF services
and specifically Y.1731 performance monitoring. This allows you and
your customers to prove that you are actually providing the bandwidth,
latency, jitter, and uptime.
MEF adds a great deal of monitoring and troubleshooting capability to
the network. It allows you to monitor end to end and within your own
network in order to identify both to you and your partners where a
problem exists and who is responsible for it.
--
Mark Radabaugh
Amplex
[email protected] 419.837.5015 x 1021
