Introduction to Carrier Ethernet

For those new to Ethernet services, this page introduces Carrier Ethernet fundamentals. Members logging in to CENX Market also gain access to the latest insights on technology, certification, operations, case studies, discussions and information of state-of-the-art members’ services.

To Enterprise users, Carrier Ethernet appears as a ubiquitous and consistent service, reaching locations serviced by high speed metro Ethernet fiber, DSL, cable, wireless and even traditional E1/T1 lines. It brings the cost model of Ethernet, as well as ubiquity and scalability, to the wide area network and is being adopted worldwide as the underlying service transport for IP, MPLS and recently, mobile backhaul.
Its characteristics make it ideal for site-to-site access, data center & server consolidation, disaster recovery, Internet access, converged networking, virtualization and cloud computing, image intensive applications, video, VoIP, etc. The service is delivered as point-to-point (E-Line) or multi-point (E-LAN) over dedicated or virtual connections from 1mbps to 10Gbps.

Carrier Ethernet, is definitely not your father’s Ethernet! The MEF has defined Carrier Ethernet as:
A ubiquitous, standardized, carrier-class Service and Network defined by five attributes that distinguish it from familiar LAN based Ethernet. 5 Attributes of Carrier Ethernet

For more Information visit www.metroethernetforum.org or click the Glossary in the above menu..