Zarlink Semiconductor unveiled an Ethernet pseudo-wire processor for data services based on work underway in the IETF's PWE3 (pseudo-wire emulation edge-to-edge) working group. The idea is to transparently tunnel layer 2 traffic - such as Ethernet - across IP or MPLS packet-switched networks by creating virtual LAN connections, called pseudo-wire connections. By providing a single network framework for LAN data transport, pseudo-wire services potentially could provide more efficient and cost-effective data services.
Zarlink's new, dedicated, single-chip, 128-link Ethernet pseudo-wire processor encapsulates Ethernet frames, including maximum-size frames, into IP or MPLS packets and transports them through a packet-switched network over pseudo- wires for reconstruction at the destination point. The company said the device could be used for a broad mix of network edge equipment, including switches, routers, and IADs.
Zarlink's new processor is compliant with the Martini draft standard for Ethernet pseudo wires (draft-ietf-pwe3-ethernet-encap) prepared by IETF's PWE3 working group. The company expects the pseudo- wire standard to be adopted by IETF in 2004.
http://www.zarlink.com
- The IETF's Pseudo Wire Emulation Edge to Edge (PWE3) Working Group: http://www.ietf.org/html.charters/pwe3-charter.html
