Abstract

Advances in layer 2 ethernet transport now make it possible to extend an ethernet network natively into the metro, regional, and even national spaces. Next generation SONET MSPPs are now being deployed using GFP, VCAT, RPR to implement these networks. Transport bandwidth on these networks typically starts at the VT 1.5 or STS - 1 rate and climbs the SONET hierarchy from there. The TCP / IP is now basically THE default network and transport layer transmission protocols. It is widely (almost universally) deployed and very flexible. And Ethernet has become essentially the default layer 2 transport protocol upon which this layer 3 - 4 tcp / ip protocol is transported.

© 2005 Optical Society of America