Tellabs has added new Ethernet aggregation capabilities to its Tellabs 5500 digital cross-connect. These new capabilities enable service providers to aggregate hundreds of Ethernet streams into a single Gigabit Ethernet (Gig-E) interface. More specifically, the Tellabs 5500 system is being enhanced with Layer 2 functionality including:
- IEEE 802.1p Q-in-Q traffic prioritization protocol, which enables service providers to use a single VLAN to support customers who have multiple VLANs;
- the IEEE’s 802.1ad link aggregation protocol, which supports the use of multiple links between compatible bridges and routers;
- low-order virtual tributaries; and
- high-order synchronous transport signal (STS) virtual concatenation of SONET.
The Tellabs 5500 digital cross-connect’s Ethernet capabilities will be available in early 2005. http://www.tellabs.com/