Reliability in ethernet networks: A survey of various approaches

Services based on Ethernet are fast becoming favorites of service providers because of the availability of higher bandwidth at lower cost. However, as more and more equipment is being installed in the networks, network reliability and performance are becoming the most critical attributes named by the service providers. In the absence of one standard that fits all Ethernet reliability needs, the Ethernet equipment vendors are coming up with a number of varied solutions to meet their immediate needs. This paper discusses various approaches that have been suggested or implemented in Ethernet equipment and network design. It highlights the pros and cons of these approaches and suggests which approach fits best for a particular network and scenario. The paper also discusses the reliability approach considered for point-to-point Ethernet services as well as for networks providing Ethernet interworking with Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Frame Relay, and Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS). (c) 2006 Lucent Technologies Inc.