| What
is this Project about?
A multipoint technology allows a user to reach multiple destinations
through a single physical or logical connection. The definition of a
multipoint network service is one that allows each customer edge (CE)
end point or node to communicate directly and independently to all other
CE nodes.
Multipoint Services (e.g. Transparent LAN Services or Virtual Private
LAN Services) provide a functionality, which is virtually identical to a
corporate LAN. With Multipoint Services a customer domain can be
extended across an operator backbone, and corporate users are able to
benefit from the simplicity and familiarity of a LAN regardless of the
physical location of their sites.
Currently many providers are offering L3 Multipoint Services (L3 VPN)
which are used by a large number of customers. This solution has some
limitations (e.g. scalable support for IP-Multicast transport, control
of customer routing) which has to be addressed and solved in the future
to provide even more attractive services.
A Multipoint Service is attractive because fewer physical connections
are required to achieve full connectivity between multiple points. An
equivalent level of connectivity based on a point-to-point technology
requires a much larger number of connections or the use of non-optimal
packet forwarding.
With IP multicast support over layer 2/3 Multipoint Services an operator
can provide the customer with support for running IP multicast services
inside the VPN network in an efficient and scalable manner. This
requires scalable mechanisms for set-up of multicast replication trees
inside the core network.
The study will analyse Multipoint Services from the operator’s
perspective. It will assess existing solutions and new technologies. The
study focuses on IP-Multicast as one service on top of different
Multipoint solutions and will analyse the pros and cons. It will also
propose a roadmap for the deployment of Multipoint Services.
What
are the main objectives of this Project?
- Describe characteristics of Multipoint
Services which are important to customers and summarise what changes
they bring to the traditional data services model.
- Compare new emerging approaches for
realising Multipoint services (e.g. Virtual Private LAN Services) with
existing solutions (e.g. layer 3 multipoint solutions that are already
implemented) and take the approaches of the different standardisation
bodies (IEEE, ITU, IETF, MEF) into account.
- Identify the main obstacles to provide
Multipoint Services in a scalable and reliable way and how to avoid or
overcome existing problems, whenever possible. Characterise the
available technical solutions (802.1ad, MACinMAC, VPLS, etc.) and
compare the respective strengths and shortcomings.
- Evaluate IP-Multicast as one service
example on top of different Multipoint solutions. Compare the pros and
cons regarding to the underlying Multipoint technologies and take new
approaches as e.g. RSVP-TE extensions for P2MP LSP into account.
- Suggest a roadmap for the deployment
of these services and recommend directions to operators in this area.
- Give input to the corresponding IETF
working groups (l3vpn, l2vpn) to provide an ISPs/carriers point of
view. This should help the IETF to come up with solution fulfilling
the service requirements of an ISP or carrier.
What
relationship exists to other organisations or bodies?
The study will
take into account specifications and ongoing work on Multipoint Services
of these standardisation bodies: IEEE, ITU, IETF, MEF.
In addition, active contributions will be made to the IETF workgroups
l3vpn and/or l2vpn.
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