Sponsored by:

Table of Contents:

Introduction - The Shift Toward Service-Driven Networks

1. The Ethernet Advantage

2. Service Definition

3. SLA Definition - Detailing the Service Definition

4. Architecture

5. Technology Deployment

6. Solution Deployment

7. Conclusion

Self-Test

Glossary

PDF of this tutorial

After identifying and making the appropriate technology deployment choices, service providers can move forward and map products to the different network roles to complete development of their networks.

A comprehensive, service-driven network solution will employ multiple technology and product options. A single device or several devices may fulfill each role in the network, depending on the service and SLA requirements, the network architecture, and the technologies that have been deployed.

A qualified vendor can provide complete recommended metro Ethernet solutions that have been analyzed and tested for each of the five areas of the design approach. The vendor's network solutions engineers can optimize network availability and performance, and focus on testing the network from a services and solutions perspective-not simply a feature perspective.

Enabling a Hybrid, Scalable Network-An Example

The following is an example of how a service provider might deploy a service-driven network.

In this case, a service provider wants to deploy a metro Ethernet network that delivers EPL, EWS, and EMS. The provider also wants to offer traditional TDM services such as E1/T1 for customers.

Initially, the service provider will focus on business customers that require high-capacity services. These customers require services beyond simple connectivity. They need a secure network that offers support for multiple service classes, and has the ability to change certain traffic parameters on demand (such as access bandwidth).

To meet these customer requirements, the provider designs and implements a hybrid network that combines different transport options from Layers 1, 2, and 3. The hybrid approach partially leverages SONET/SDH, but also makes use of Layer 2 and Layer 3 equipment such as switches and routers. Using multiple technology and product options, the provider can build a highly scalable network.

Although this hybrid network example uses a smaller three-tier architecture, a service provider could easily extend the network to use an aggregation layer as well.