An apparatus is disclosed for delivering layer-2 services over a layer-3 network. The apparatus includes a layer-2 module for transmitting and receiving layer-2 packets over a first communication network, and a layer-3 module for converting the layer-2 packet into a format that can be trasmitted over a conventional layer-3 network. The converted layer-2 packet is transmitted with sufficient information to allow reconstruction of the original layer-2 packet at the destination device. The apparatus can also be configured to simultaneously transmit and receive layer-2 packets and layer-3 packets over the layer3 network.
展开▼