With this approach, network operators can reduce the cost and improve the efficiency of both Layer 2 switched networks and Layer 1 transport networks to support a variety of applications including:

• Business services (E-Line, E-LAN)
• Triple play (Efficient transport for IPTV)
• Enterprise WAN and storage
• Wireless backhaul
• Ethernet infrastructure

The G10 and G10X modules highlight Ciena’s commitment to facilitating connection-oriented Ethernet, enhancing the successful CN 4200 family by adding packet functionality to one of the most advanced and flexible optical transport platforms on the market today. Adding Layer 2 Ethernet aggregation and switching to the CN 4200 results in fewer ports required on Layer 2/3 Ethernet switching equipment, fewer Ethernet client interfaces, and fewer wavelengths on Layer 0/1 equipment, and potentially eliminates standalone Layer 2 Ethernet switches in metro networks.

The function of the G10 and G10X is based on the Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) Ethernet Virtual Circuit (EVC) standard, and supports both Ethernet Virtual Private Line (EVPL) and Ethernet Private Line (EPL) circuits with or without packet modification through the tunnel, and guaranteed Service Level Agreement (SLA) conformance. L2VPN services are supported with 802.1Q Bridging and QoS mapping on VLAN p-bit or DiffServ Code Point (DSCP).

In addition to providing EVPL and EPL services, the G10 and G10X improve the transport network efficiency of IPTV applications by supporting multicast and IGMP Snooping capabilities. Efficient IPTV transport requires the multicast function to occur as close to the customer as possible to provide efficient utilization of the transport network.

The bridging or multipoint-to-multipoint feature on the G10 offers business services and inter-site any-to-any connectivity between various sites of an enterprise. Both the G10 and G10X are true Layer 2 switches that help reduce the number of network elements and interfaces by offloading Ethernet traffic from a separate Ethernet switch to a single CN 4200. Providers using the G10 and G10X can extend Ethernet service reach, offer greater service variety, and increase network flexibility by enabling any speed to any-speed connectivity.

The G10 is a 10-port GbE module designed to aggregate lower-capacity services and interwork with CN 4200’s Layer 1 functionality to share the same Optical Transport Unit-1 (OTU-1) wavelength among multiple nodes.

The G10X is a one-port 10 Gb/s module that can transport Layer 2 services over a 10G LAN PHY using a Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) XFP, or can map into OTU-2 for transport over a Layer 1 network.

The modules, available for all chassis sizes of the CN 4200 family, use dense copper 10/100/1000 BaseT, and optical Fast Ethernet (FE), GbE, and 10GbE interfaces.

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