ETX-203AM Universal Carrier Ethernet Demarcation Device
(Part of the ETX-2
family)
ETX-203AM Universal Carrier Ethernet Demarcation Device from RAD
Key Points ETX-203AM features:
· Modular uplink with Gigabit Ethernet or SHDSL interfaces
· Reducing complexity and TCO for purchasing, homologation, training, service production, and management integration
· MEF-compliant services with CIR/EIR traffic profiles and hierarchical scheduling providing traffic management at the edge of Carrier Ethernet
networks
· Complete hardware-based OAM toolset: ITU-T Y.1731, IEEE 802.1ag, IEEE 802.3-2005, enabling quick network fault detection and very accurate
traffic monitoring
· Throughput testing across routed/switched networks up to line rate by using Layer-2 RFC-2544 traffic generator and analyzer, and Layer-2/3
loopbacks
ETX-203AM is a compact Carrier Ethernet demarcation device with a changeable
uplink module that supports different interface types, providing end-to-end service control and performance
management over a variety of access networks.
The ETX-203AM modular uplink design enables carriers to provide universal homogenous Carrier Ethernet service while
saving operational costs. The device delivers SLA-based businessservices to the customer premises over
native Ethernet interfaces, terminating over any type of packet network.
ETX-203AM transports Ethernet traffic, ensuring TDM-like performance and Five Nines reliability.
ETX-203AM can deliver IP VPN, VoIP, and dedicated Internet access over the same physical link as a Layer-2 LAN-to-LAN
service, all with differentiated quality of service and end-to-end monitoring.
The ETX-203AM architecture ensures powerful traffic management that allows the service provider to control bandwidth,
monitor and enforce network traffic SLA.
The ETX-203AM modular uplink design enables utilizing a single Ethernet demarcation device over different access
networks and infrastructures, while providing uniform service. The following uplink modules are available:
· GbE – Two redundant combo ports (SFP/copper)
· EFM (Ethernet in the first mile) DSL – One or two SHDSL ports providing up to 22 Mbps over bonded SHDSL.bis
copper lines.
MARKET SEGMENTS AND APPLICATIONS
ETX-203AM is used as an Ethernet demarcation device that separates the service provider network, the access
provider network, and the customer network, providing proactive service monitoring and easy fault localization
throughout the entire network (see Figure 1).
ETHERNET
Classification
Traffic is mapped to the Ethernet flows using very flexible classification criteria
based on incoming port (port-based all-to-one bundling), VLAN ID, VLAN priority, IP precedence, DSCP, Ethertype,
and IP/MAC source/destination address. Classification is defined for both VLAN tagged as well as
untagged traffic. Layer-2 Control Processing The ETX-203AM can be configured to forward
Layer-2 control frames per EVC (including other vendors’ L2CP frames) across the
network, to peer supported protocols (IEEE 802.3-2005 and LACP), or to discard the L2CP frames.
OAM
Featuring ultra fast, hardware-powered
processing, ETX-203AM performs OAM andPM measurements in line rate with maximum precision,
offering the following powerful benefits:
· Immediate detection of loss of continuity (LOC), ensuring under 50 ms protection switching
· Highly accurate frame loss measurements of live traffic
· Flow-level (per CoS) monitoring, enabling simultaneous processing of multiple OAM sessions with E-LAN and
E-Tree support
· Non-disruptive MAC and IP level loopback testing of network integrity.
ETX-203AM provides these types of
Ethernet OAM:
· Single-segment (link) OAM according to IEEE 802.3-2005 (formerly 802.3ah) for remote management and fault
indication, including remote loopback, dying gasp with SNMP trap, and MIB parameter retrieval. Active and passive
mode are supported.
· End-to-end connectivity OAM based on IEEE 802.1ag that enables Ethernet service providers to monitor their
services proactively and guarantee that customers receive the contracted SLA
· End-to-end service and performance monitoring based on ITU-T Y.1731. Fault monitoring and end-to-end
performance measurement include delay, delay variation, frame loss and availability.
Traffic Management/QoS with the RAD ETX-203AM
Different service types require different levels of QoS to be provided end-to-end.
QoS can be defined per subscriber as well as per service. QoS has three aspects: rate
limitation, traffic shaping, and traffic prioritization.
Traffic policing is applied per flow or group of flows, and operates according to the
dual token bucket mechanism based on user-configurable CIR + CBS and EIR + EBS. Traffic can be limited to the line rate or
the data rate.
Forwarding
Every flow per EVC or EVC.cos has its own queues and scheduler supporting strict
priority and weighted fair queues (WFQ). Queue blocks of eight queues per EVC are
scheduled and shaped, forming an H-QoS model with shaped services and prioritized
classes of service. The WRED mechanism is used for smart packet drop.
The VLAN priority bit in Ethernet frames can be modified at network ingress according to the ‘color’ of the frame. This
allows service consistency and QoS continuity across color-aware (drop eligible-enabled) as well as color-unaware
networks.
Smart SFPs
Integrated management of MiRICi smart SFPs provides TDM (E1/T1/E3/T3/ OC-3/STM-1) connectivity over PDH or
SDH legacy networks. ETX-203AM supports configuration and statistic collection for the smart SFP TDM port.
RESILIENCY
Dying Gasp
ETX-203AM reports power failures to defined network management stations by sending an IEEE 802.3-2005 message or
SNMP trap, thus enabling the unit to properly disconnect from the network with notification of the reason for the
service problem.
Fault Propagation
The RAD ETX-203AM provides a user-configurable fault propagation mechanism in the
network-to-user or user-to-network direction.
When a link failure is detected or OAM failure received, ETX-203AM can shut down the affected port or forward the
OAM failure message. The fault propagation mechanism enables routers and switches connected to both ends of
the link to reroute the traffic to the redundancy path.
Link Protection
ETX-203AM provides the following network interface protection modes:
· 802.3ad link aggregation (LAG), providing 1:1 link protection with Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP)
support
· Dual homing (1:1), allowing ETX-203AM units to be connected to two different upstream devices.
Ethernet Path Protection
ETX-203AM applies standard ITU-T G.8031 Ethernet Linear Protection switching for
fast protection of one or more EVCs on an end-to-end. The standard implementation
ensures interoperability with third-party devices. With standard APS functionality,
Ethernet OAM messages provide bandwidth-efficient unidirectional or bidirectional 1:1 protection.
The EVC protection path can be configured on the same network port, enabling the
transport network to provide an alternative path for the working and protecting path. It can also be configured
on separate network ports, adding protection at the access layer and enabling load
balancing on network interfaces by splitting traffic between the two network ports.
The performance of the hardware-based Ethernet OAM together with protection switching for physical layer failure ensures
fast protection in any scenario. The flow level protection provides a full set of manual commands for maintenance
purposes.
MANAGEMENT AND SECURITY
The following security protocols are provided by ETX-203AM to ensure client server communication privacy and correct
user authentication:
· SNMPv3
· RADIUS (client authentication)
· TACACS+ (client authentication and accounting)
· SSH (secure shell communication session)
· SFTP (secure file transfer).
Ports
The ARD ETX-203AM can be managed using the following ports and applications:
· Local management via an ASCII terminal connected to the RS-232 port
· Out-of-band management via a dedicated management port.
· Remote inband management via user or network ports routed via separate VLANs, Telnet, or an SNMP-based
management system.
ETX-203AM uses a Command Line Interface (CLI)
Databases and scripts of commonly used commands can be easily created and applied to multiple units using command
line interface.
Trap Synchronization
Traps are sent with sequence IDs to network manager groups, to enable the managers to detect when traps are lost
and request the traps be sent again.
Zero Touch Provisioning
IP address and mask, default gateway, and software and configuration files can be
automatically obtained using standard DHCP client functionality. This enables seamless node setup and configuration
for quick and scalable network setup and deployment as well as configuration consistency when nodes must be
replaced.
MONITORING AND DIAGNOSTICS
RFC-2544
The device provides a built-in RFC-2544 wirespeed traffic generator and analyzer
for unidirectional and bidirectional testing of throughput, latency, and frame loss.
Based on standard OAM messages, the tests can be simultaneously performed over multiple flows, at the EVC.CoS level.
Enhanced RFC-2544 functionality provides service-oriented KPI analysis. SLA conformance is measured per service
bandwidth and packet size, within a user-defined amount of time, for faster service introduction.
Product data sheet for the ETX-203AM
(pdf)