GOE (Global Open Ethernet) Concept of Ethernet-Based Reliable, Scalable, and 'Plug & Play' VPN

摘要

We propose a GOE (Global Open Ethernet) concept for supporting next-generation provider-and customer-managed Ethernet VPNs, and also present technical detail of GOE tag-switching technology especially for provider-managed VPNs. Next-generation provider-managed VPN services are expected to cost-effectively provide transport functions that are almost equivalent to STM ones, such as reliability and scalability, since they are becoming a lifeline as an alternative to STM-based leased-line ones. On the other hand, with the spread of customer-managed VPNs and broadband access, next-generation customer-managed VPNs are expected to support not only 'site-to-site' and 'person-to-site' connectivity but also 'group-to-group' and 'person-to-person' connectivity. Such VPNs should be required to be based on 'plug & play' technology so that customers can use these networks easily without any security problems. In order to meet these requirements, we propose a GOE concept, which is to provide a worldwide Ethernet access to any person, from anywhere, anytime, with 'plug & play.' We approach toward the concept with two categories of GOE technologies. One is based on GOE tag-switching technology, which gives transport functions that are almost equivalent to SONET/SDH ones, to provide scalable and reliable Ethernet networks for provider-managed VPN. The other is based on Ethernet-over-ANY technology called GOE-VPN, which transports Ethernet frames transparently between any sites and/or persons with ease, to provide ubiquitous Ethernet access scheme. GOE would be a driving force for evolving Ethernet to a world-wide network and much wider spreading of Ethernet-based VPNs.