Session 1: Carrier-Ethernet Design Trends

Bob Wheeler, senior analyst at The Linley Group, presenedt an overview of market, technology, equipment-design, and silicon trends for designers of Carrier-Ethernet equipment.

Session 2: The Ethernet Revolution in Optical Transport

This session, moderated by Jag Bolaria, senior analyst at The Linley Group, focused on the emerging category of Packet Optical Transport equipment.

Carrier Ethernet Packet Switching in Optical Transport
   Lars A. Pedersen, CTO, TPACK

The introduction of Packet Optical Transport Networks (P-OTN) has created the need for a new set of focused chip solutions. Requirements include Packet Transport Switching, which provides native packet switching capabilities in optical transport networks as a complement to traditional packet mapping functionality. By enabling MEF-defined services such as E-Line, E-LAN, and E-Tree, Packet Transport Switching allows P-OTN nodes to serve as an alternative platform to Carrier Ethernet Switch Routers. In this presentation, TPACK examined packet transport switching requirements and how these can be addressed using SOFTSILICON and Universal Linecard approaches.

Solving Technical Challenges for Multi-10G, 40G, and 100G Carrier Ethernet Line Cards
   Subhash Roy, CTO, AMCC

Next-generation Carrier Ethernet platforms supporting multi-10G, 40G and 100G line cards will need to overcome power constraints, board routing, and optical-transmission impairments. In this talk, AMCC discussed how vertical integration can help overcome power constraints and board routing by reducing chip-to-chip interconnects. In addition, the talk discussed how adding an OTN layer (OTU3 and OTU4) adds gain to the overall system budget, thereby relieving the burden on 40G/100G optical transmission.

Session 3: The New Access Network

This session, moderated by Bob Wheeler, examined requirements and design alternatives for Carrier Ethernet access equipment.

Bringing Carrier Ethernet to Access Networks
   Patrick Bisson, VP Technology Applications, EZchip Technologies

In this talk, EZchip discussed the implementation of access protocols and features including T-MPLS and related OAM and protection-switching capabilities. The presentation centered on EZchip’s NPA device, which is the company’s first NPU aimed at the access market.

A Best of Breed Solution for Converged Fiber Access and LTE
   Thomas Eklund, VP Marketing and Business Development, Xelerated

This presentation explored how Carrier Ethernet is being extended as a key transport layer in access. Fiber access and wireless access will soon come to rely on a Carrier Ethernet infrastructure optimized for access, and this discussion identified those key requirements and trends. Xelerated disclosed, for the first time in public, details of its new AX330 Programmable Ethernet Switch line and demonstrated how it can be a key technology piece for a combined Active Ethernet, GPON and LTE design.

Session 4: Emerging Technologies and Protocols

This session, moderated by Bob Wheeler, discussed new and emerging Carrier Ethernet standards and leading-edge implementation examples.

Expanding Security to Carrier Ethernet using MACsec
   Bart Stevens, Director of Product Management, SafeNet

Responding to new data-security regulations and an increased reliance on LAN/MAN networks, the IEEE has published the MACsec protocols, which specify how to secure link-layer communications. An easy-to-integrate, future-proof MACsec solution is imperative for equipment manufacturers and semiconductor vendors required to address user-data confidentiality, frame-data integrity, and data-origin authenticity. In this talk, SafeNet provided background information on MACsec technology and deployments, comparing it to other security protocols, addressed best practices for building MACsec into networking equipment, chips, and software, and discussed its latest software and IP-core offerings for MACsec for high-speed Carrier Ethernet equipment.

Functional Characteristics of a Carrier Ethernet Bridge
   Peter Kao, Product Architect, IP Infusion

IP Infusion presented functional characteristics and respective standard specifications and software technology components required by a Carrier Ethernet Backbone Bridge operating in a Metro Network environment. In the presentation, essential Carrier CAPEX and OPEX requirements were identified and used as a starting point to map out switch functions and respective protocol standards/specifications that characterize a Carrier Ethernet Backbone Bridge (Provider Backbone Bridge). The functions covered included carrier-grade OAM, traffic engineering, logical topology and protection switching, and network/OAM interworking.

100G Physical Layer Solution for Next-Generation Ethernet and OTN Networks
   Siddharth Sheth, Director Marketing, Physical Layer Products,
   NetLogic Microsystems

While today's data centers deploy 10GbE and server virtualization, bandwidth-hungry applications like IPTV, mobile video, and VoIP are driving the need for higher speed Carrier Ethernet and transport to connect these new data centers. In this talk, NetLogic discussed the state of 40G and 100G Ethernet standards and introduce its 40G/100G physical layer solution, which facilitates building out next-generation Carrier Ethernet equipment while offering a seamless upgrade path from 10GbE.

Session 5: Challenges in Carrier-Equipment Design (Closing Panel)

This panel discussed the many challenges associated with next-generation carrier-equipment designs including Carrier Ethernet Switch/Routers, packet-optical transport platforms, and Carrier Ethernet access/backhaul platforms.

Moderator: Bob Wheeler, The Linley Group
Panelists:   Patrick Bisson, EZchip; Thomas Eklund, Xelerated; Peter Kao, IP Infusion;
                      Siddarth Sheth, NetLogic; Lars A. Pedersen, TPACK

Request a free copy of the presentations by completing the registration form.

The seminar was intended for system designers, OEM/ODMs, network-equipment vendors, network service providers, software vendors, press, and the financial community.

Information collected for this event will be shared with the sponsors paying for this seminar. This information will not be shared with companies other than the sponsors of this event.

Further questions?   Contact The Linley Group:
Phone: 1.800.413.2881 (toll free in US) or 1.408.281.1947 or email: customer service