Transparent LAN services

Overview

The enterprise LAN (local area network) interconnect and transport applications provide business-to-business networking of routers and data switches. Transparent LAN service is similar to VLAN service, except that Transparent LANs can be deployed using rate control OR on a best effort basis.

Enterprise LAN interconnect (multipoint Ethernet) description

The multipoint LAN interconnect capability of Alcatel-Lucent 1665 DMX allows data to be transported across an Alcatel-Lucent 1665 DMX network from any point to any other point. Protection is provided via the standard spanning tree algorithm. The Alcatel-Lucent 1665 DMX software determines which Alcatel-Lucent 1665 DMX NE is the "root" of the data network. The data spans out from that Alcatel-Lucent 1665 DMX NE, enabling the customer to extend its enterprise network into the WAN as a virtual private LAN.

The figure below depicts two high-speed Alcatel-Lucent 1665 DMX path switched rings transporting data in either a point-to-point or multipoint configuration between Alcatel-Lucent 1665 DMX clients through multiple nodes and switching points.

Figure 3-12: Transparent LAN services

Multicast Ethernet packets

Multicast Ethernet packets/transmission can be used to facilitate certain Transparent LAN applications. Yet, Transparent LANs can be implemented using a variety of Ethernet cross-connection types. For more information, see Cross-connections in Chapter 6, System planning and engineering.

Multicast Ethernet can also be used to facilitate video distribution, webcasting, and any other application in which multipoint Ethernet cross-connections are used. For more information on the functionality of multicast Ethernet in the Alcatel-Lucent 1665 DMX, see Networking capabilities in Chapter 2, Features.

Application advantage

The Transparent LAN application supports fast, packet-layer protection throughout the WAN, as well as the ability to offer both dedicated and shared bandwidth transport services with improved efficiency and flexible quality of service (QoS).