Two application-optimized solutions are currently available as part of the CoreDirector suite of data solutions: the Ethernet Services Line Module (ESLM) and the Gigabit Ethernet Line Module (GELM).

The ESLM maps Ethernet packets to SONET/SDH frames using industry-standard mechanisms: Generic Framing Procedure (GFP), Virtual Concatenation (VCAT) and Link Capacity Adjustment Scheme (LCAS). This module supports 10 x GbE or 1 x 10GbE ports and up to 64 SONET/SDH Virtual Concatenation Groups (VCGs), providing 20 Gb/s of full duplex packet-switching capacity. Two ESLMs can be configured to provide equipment protection, using link aggregation across the two modules or to realize a full 40 Gb/s of any-to-any switching capacity. Supporting any port to any port Layer 2 switching functionality, the ESLM provides the flexibility to efficiently manage data traffic flows through the network. The module delivers a rich suite of per-flow Class/Quality of Service (C/QoS) traffic management capabilities, including classification, metering, marking, queuing and policing that can be used to enforce Service Level Agreements (SLAs).

The GELM supports Layer 1 Ethernet tunneling and also uses GFP, VCAT and LCAS for mapping Ethernet packets to SONET/SDH frames and right-sizing bandwidth tunnels across the network to transport the data traffic. Supporting 20 GbE ports, this high-density module delivers an even lower cost for CoreDirector GbE interfaces. This module is used for cost-effective native GbE hand-offs where Layer 2 switching functionality is not required.

Ciena may make changes from time to time to the products or specifications contained herein without notice.