Carrier Ethernet Overview
The introductory lecture gives some background on the transition to Ethernet in the Information Communications Technology (ICT) industry and explains Carrier Ethernet following the evolution of MEF since its formation in 2001. It also provides a comprehensive overview of the MEF organization, technical committee processes along with a guide to the MEF’s on-line and web resources. The lecture explains everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the MEF-CECP exam along with a strategy and timeline to successfully prepare and succeed on the exam, which is given at the end of the course.
Module 1 – Carrier Ethernet EVC Service Definitions and the UNI Interface
This lecture begins with an introduction to networking basics and an explanation of Ethernet technical concepts, bridging and switching operations and a look at the Ethernet frame format. With an understanding of how Ethernet came to be invented, students will be able to follow Ethernet’s evolution from a Local Area Networking (LAN) technology used in office and home environments to technology that powers global networks today.
It provides an in-depth analysis of the most important MEF technical specifications – including the latest versions of MEF 6 – MEF Ethernet Services Definitions standard and MEF 10 – the Ethernet Virtual Connection (EVC) Attributes specifications. These technical specifications define the Carrier Ethernet Services types (E-Line, E-LAN and E-Tree), the attributes and parameters for each service and form the basis for the Carrier Ethernet services being delivered around the world. Through in-depth review of these key documents, students will be able to understand and explain the characteristics and nuances of each service using precisely defined MEF terms.
Module 2 – Carrier Ethernet OVC Service Definitions and the ENNI Interface
This lecture is a detailed look at the MEF 26 – the MEF ENNI Interface and MEF 51 – OVC-based Service Definition document. It covers both the External Network to Network Interface (ENNI) attributes and capabilities for supporting interconnections between multi-operator networks. The module also introduces the MEF’s Standard Classes of Service (MEF 23) explaining the 3 class model and demonstrates how performance tiers impact the class of service performance objectives for EVC and OVC delay and loss performance metrics.
Module 3 – Circuit Emulation, Synchronization and Mobile Backhaul
This lecture explains the interworking of Carrier Ethernet and legacy TDM services, explaining how TDM circuits can be transported over Carrier Ethernet Networks. It makes references to requirements and specifications produced by other standards organizations (notably the ITU-T and IETF) and adapts these to address the specific requirements with respect to transport over Carrier Ethernet. This module also addresses the basics of network timing and synchronization and specific applications that require synchronization. Finally, we’ll explore Carrier Ethernet for Mobile Backhaul—the most popular application for Carrier Ethernet.
Module 4 – Carrier Ethernet Service Activation Testing (SAT) and Service OAM Operations Administration and Maintenance
This lecture explains Service Activation Testing, it looks at the recent standards used to verify connectivity and performance across multi-operator networks. Ethernet service turn-up testing has historically lacked the consistency and diligence required to ensure the quality of the new service prior to customer hand-off. To address this, the MEF 48 SAT Implementation Agreement was develped. MEF 48 details all the mandatory and optional tests that can be performed using the ITU Y.1564 Ethernet Service Activitation Measurement standard. Expertise in this recent and evolving Carrier Ethernet discipline can dramatically reduce provisioning mistakes, misunderstandings and the frustration and customer (dis)satification that can arise from poor service turn-up and customer hand-off.
The lecture covers the management capabilities developed to troubleshoot and performance monitor Carrier Ethernet networks. Examining both Service OAM Fault Management (S-OAM FM) and Performance Management (S-OAM PM) capabilities. Looking first at Service OAM architecture and components standardized by the IEEE 80-2.1 (CFM) connectivity fault management project and continues to explore the advanced performance monitoring recently standardized by the ITU Y.1731. Upon the completion of this lecture, students will have an expert level understanding of Ethernet Service Testing and Service OAM troubleshooting and monitoring techniques.
Module 5, 6 and 7 – Related Carrier Ethernet Access, Transport Technologies and MEF Certification Programs
This lecture covers the remaining material necessary to successfully master the MEF-CECP exam. As the exam has evolved over the past 10 years, these areas have gradually diminished in importance to make way for expanded coverage of things like Service Testing and OAM. So while there isn’t a great emphasis on these areas, there does remain a number of questions students will need to understand in order to successful pass the MEF-CECP certification.
The lecture also goes beyond the work of MEF to survey related methods and technologies for transporting Carrier Ethernet services using modern, commonly used data networking architectures and protocols. Delivering Carrier Ethernet via networking standards defined by the IETF, IEEE and ITU-T will provide unique insight into real-world deployments of Carrier Ethernet. We’ll next look at standards developed outside of MEF to deliver Carrier Ethernet. Various methods for providing Ethernet access services over nearly any media will be surveyed and explained, highlighting their fit in specific deployment scenarios.
This final subject details the evolution from Carrier Ethernet 1.0 and certifications programs for equipment vendors and service providers to MEF 3.0. It provides information on the logistics requirements and on the different Carrier Ethernet Services available for certification in a lab environment for equipment vendors as well as in Service providers’ production networks.
Module 8 – MEF-CECP Expert Boot Camp Course Review
This module combines the concepts and technologies covered in all the previous modules into a concise review of the critical components to fully prepare the students for the MEF-CECP exam. Using the MEF service definitions, Carrier Ethernet interface specifications and related technologies for Ethernet transport, and extending Ethernet into the access network, students will build a variety of Carrier Ethernet applications in an interactive capstone lab.
