Grande Gets Creative with Transparent LAN Services Using Zhone’s EFM

Grande Communications’ (Booth 609) implemented a strategy for Ethernet T1 service that reduces the complexity and costs associated with MPLS or VPLS at the customer premise. Grande selected Zhone Technology Inc.’s TNE T1 Network Extender and MALC T1 Ethernet aggregation line cards to deliver a simplified approach to business-grade Transparent LAN Services (TLS).

The strategy, according to Zhone (Booth 408), was based on a Layer 2 approach using native Ethernet, without the need to provision routers and deal with TCP/IP controls.

Based on Layer 2 Ethernet, Ethernet over TDM (EoTDM) doesn’t require the level of provisioning and ongoing maintenance needed for MPLS tunnels and IP addressing, which reduces time-consuming provisioning at the router, said Zhone.

Grande uses the 802.1p packet prioritization and 802.1Q-in-Q VLAN tagging capabilities in Zhone’s TNE Network Extenders to handle packetforwarding and QoS. Either Grande or its customer, or both, can manage QoS. Zhone’s application of open interfaces and standard Ethernet practices enables Grande to leverage the EoTDM network with Grande’s other Ethernet access networks.

Zhone’s TNE Network Extenders are pre-configured for plug-and-play operation. Grande provides a TNE at the customer premise, and connects directly into a MALC Ethernet aggregation access system with a T1 Ethernet loop bonding line card. The TNEs perform auto-discovery and turn up automatically. For the business customer, the TNEs connect directly from their LAN via RJ45 ports on the Ethernet access device. No new interfaces or intermediary devices are required to have complete LAN-to-WAN Ethernet connectivity, added Zhone.

Using Zhone’s Multimedia Traffic Management (MTM) traffic prioritization, data rate control and packet redirecting can be done on either the upstream or downstream for QoS guarantees. Latency is reduced by as much as 50 percent over router-based bonding like MLPPP, said Zhone. Combined with jitter control and other QoS features, T1 EoTDM with copper loop bonding delivers fiber-like quality and bandwidth over regular copper pairs, the company said.

Zhone Technologies Inc. www.zhone.com

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