Carrier Ethernet technology provides carriers with end-to-end Ethernet services over wide area networks (WANs), and implements both cost and simplicity benefits. However, Ethernet doesn’t have the same carrier-grade functionality of the TDM networks they aim to replace, resulting in challenges associated with quality of service (QoS) guarantees, rapid failover implementation, service management, and scalability. New standards and objectives address these issues, allowing carriers to effectively and reliably deploy Ethernet-based carrier networks.

As the Carrier Ethernet market develops at a steady pace, bursts of innovative technology and standards promise to fuel the embers. Ixia helped demonstrate cutting-edge network technologies at the recent Carrier Ethernet World Congress (CEWC) Public Multi-Vendor Interoperability Event in Amsterdam from October 10 through 13, 2011. CEWC is IIR’s flagship transmission event, attracting the highest echelons of the transmission industry, and is the largest conference and exhibition for the Ethernet networking and services industry.

Ixia is a leader in Carrier Ethernet testing technologies and has participated in all public European Advanced Networking Test Center (EANTC) interoperability tests to date, as well as several private tests with network equipment manufacturers (NEMs) and service providers. At CEWC 2011 Ixia validated critical functionality and multi-vendor interoperability for the following:

• MPLS-TP – a layer 2 technology that supports connection-oriented packet transport services across transport networks, including Carrier Ethernet and mobile backhaul, with a similar degree of predictability, reliability, and OAM (operations, administration, and maintenance) found in existing transport networks. Ixia demonstrated MPLS-TP network functionality, including a public showcase featuring 1+1 protection switching. Ixia was first-to market with MPLS-TP testing in September 2010.
• Carrier Ethernet network robustness – even minor amounts of WAN latency can negatively impact mission-critical applications, degrading the performance of voice over IP (VoIP), streaming media, and video. Ixia’s ImpairNet load module was used to emulate network impairments (such as delay, jitter, and loss) – a critical component in validating service delivery and reliability through real-world network impairments pervasive across the WAN.
• IEEE 1588v2 timing – addresses frequency, phase, and time-of-day synchronization requirements, making it ideal for applications such as LTE TDD. Timing synchronization is also critical in other network deployments such as utilities’ “smart grid.” By implementing these new clock types in their network, service providers can improve network scalability and timing synchronization accuracy, both of which are critical to migrating voice services from existing TDM transport to a more cost-effective Ethernet mobile backhaul. Ixia equipment was used to validate 1588v2 boundary and transparent clock functionality in the multi-vendor interoperability showcase.

For more information:
Whitepaper: EANTC CEWC 2011 Interoperability Showcase
Ixia CEWC 2011 press release