Datasheet

Data Sheet

Ethernet Operations, Administration, Maintenance, and Provisioning

The advent of Ethernet as a metropolitan and wide-area networking technology has accelerated

the need for a new set of operations, administration, maintenance, and provisioning (OAM&P)

protocols. Service provider networks are large and complex with a wide user base, and they often

involve different operators that must work together to provide end-to-end services to enterprise

customers. To answer enterprise customer demands, service providers must reduce the mean

time to repair (MTTR) and increase service availability. Ethernet OAM&P features address these

challenges and enable service providers to offer carrier-grade services.

The Cisco ME 3400E Series supports industry-standard OAM&P tools including IEEE 802.1ag

Connectivity Fault Management, IEEE 802.3ah Ethernet First Mile, and Ethernet Local

Management Interface (E-LMI) protocol. IEEE 802.1ag tools to monitor and troubleshoot end-to-

end Ethernet networks allow service providers to check connectivity, isolate network issues, and

identify customers affected by network issues. E-LMI protocol, developed by the MEF, enables

service providers to communicate service configuration and status information to the customer-

edge device. In addition, the Cisco ME 3400E Series supports the IEEE 802.3ah Ethernet in the

First Mile standard for monitoring, remote failure indication, loopback, and OAM discovery on the

link between the customer equipment and the service provider network.

Furthermore, the Cisco ME 3400E Series supports the ITU-T standard Y.1731, which provides

fault management and complements the IEEE 802.1ag functionality.

Applications

Cisco ME 3400E Series switches help service providers offer a portfolio of profitable, differentiated

services, including Layer 2 and Layer 3 VPN services for the ETTB market.

Intelligent Ethernet Demarcation

As Ethernet circuits replace TDM circuits inside of enterprise wiring closets, a replacement for the

demarcation device is also needed. Service providers have traditionally relied on this type of

device to separate the management responsibility. A demarcation device allows service providers

to monitor and troubleshoot circuits all the way into the customer’s wiring closet. The Cisco ME

3400EG-2CS Switch offers the same function for an Ethernet-based network. With support for

industry-standard Ethernet OAM&P features and traffic loopback, the Cisco ME 3400EG-2CS

allows service providers to monitor and troubleshoot Ethernet circuits remotely. These features

greatly reduce operating expense for service providers by reducing the numbers of site visits

needed to troubleshoot network problems. In addition, the Cisco ME 3400EG-2CS provides the

same intelligent features such as QoS, Ethernet security, and Multicast as other switches in the

Cisco ME 3400E Series.

Layer 2 VPN Service

Layer 2 VPN services allow customers to connect remote offices together through a service

provider network without requiring private connections. The Cisco ME 3400E Series is suited for

Carrier Ethernet access deployments because it offers features such as 802.1Q Tunneling and

L2PT. The Cisco ME 3400E Series helps service providers offer Layer 2 VPN services to their

enterprise or commercial customers (Figure 2). Typically, these switches are installed in a office

building basement serving multiple customers as customer located equipment (CLE).