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, Enterprise WAN and storage, Ethernet infrastructure, triple play, and wireless backhaul.

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. Layer 0/1/2 integration allows the network operator to right-size transport bandwidth and permit a limitless number of Ethernet clients on a single wavelength ring, so the transport network design can be determined by the amount of Ethernet service rather than the number of clients.

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 EPL circuits with or without packet modification through the tunnel, and guaranteed Service Level Agreement (SLA) conformance. Switching occurs on a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) and supports Q-in-Q, with service prioritization on VLAN p-bit or DiffServ Code Point (DSCP).

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 lowercapacity 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.