Chapter 6. Metro Ethernet Services

This chapter covers the following topics:

  • Market drivers for metro Ethernet

  • Metro Ethernet architectures

  • Design goals and constraints

  • Cisco solutions and designs

  • Cisco metro Ethernet optical equipment

Local-area network (LAN) bandwidth prices have plummeted in the past decade with the advent of Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, and 10 Gigabit Ethernet. Legacy MAN/WAN connectivity (such as DS1 and DS3) prices have not followed the same exponentially decreasing pricing trend. Customers want to leverage the cost advantages of Ethernet, while receiving a similar level of service that they currently have with their dedicated lines. Carriers can benefit from Ethernet deployments due to the simplicity and ubiquity of the interface ...

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