Industry leaders converged at the World Trade Center in Boston to listen to experts discuss technologies, solutions, deployments, products and much more. The conference featured presentations by enterprises, service providers, consultants and vendors.

The following sessions represent the vast majority of presentation and tutorial from the 2009 event.

IP/MPLS in the Mobile Radio Access Network (RAN) Tutorial

This tutorial will examine the principal drivers for a new IP/MPLS backhaul transport infrastructure that accommodates the scaling needs of the evolving mobile networks. Key challenges, options, benefits and tradeoffs are explored for solutions supporting several prevalent applications. Key existing and emerging industry standards/agreements are referenced.

• Luyuan Fang
• IP/MPLS Forum Ambassador
• Cisco Systems
• Doug Hunt
• IP/MPLS Forum Ambassador
• Alcatel-Lucent
• Download paper

Which MVPN Option to Deploy?

The MVPN (Multicast Virtual Private Network) architecture can be divided into a number of independent tiers with multiple options that can be employed to realize each tier. These options, their benefits and tradeoffs are analyzed based on solution needs, scalability and convergence requirements, and MVPN characteristics in live networks. Experiences, trends, bottlenecks and scaling issues in existing large scale MVPN deployments are shared to show that real scale issues exist elsewhere than the hype created today. This tutorial will examine key considerations to think of when choosing MVPN options for the different tiers to accommodate the needs of present and future networks. It will dispel the notion of "one-size-fits-all", demonstrate why multiple solutions exist, and offer guidance on choosing the correct solution to address needs.

• Azhar Sayeed
• Director Product Management
• Cisco Systems Inc.
• Maria Napierala
• Technology Architect
• AT&T Laboratories
• Download paper - Part 1
  
• Download paper - Part 2

MPLS Inter-Carrier Interconnect (MPLS-ICI) Tutorial

BGP/MPLS VPN and L2 VPN services supported by MPLS continue to exhibit significant global growth. For a growing number of Enterprises, these services are extending beyond the reach of a single carrier and require a multi-carrier solution. This tutorial explores the emerging requirements and standards work associated with support of MPLS services across carrier boundaries. The use of a MPLS Inter-Carrier Interconnect (MPLS-ICI) technical specification for support of BGP/MPLS VPNs and pseudo-wire support for existing L2 services will be discussed.

• Monique Morrow
• IP/MPLS Forum Ambassador
• Cisco Systems
• Harish Sitaraman
• IP/MPLS Forum Ambassador
• Juniper Networks
• Download paper

MEF Carrier Ethernet Workshop

• Metro Ethernet Forum

Carrier Ethernet Introduction and MEF Program Highlights Carrier Ethernet Introduction and MEF Program Highlights

• The MEF, its mission and growth & major program highlights
• Overview of Carrier Ethernet Attributes
• MEF-defined services: E-LINE, E-LAN and the new E-TREE Service types
• Architecture, service attributes, bandwidth profiles, traffic management
• Download paper

MEF Specifications, Standards Activities & Work in Progress

• Overview of popular existing specifications
• Standards activities update (MEF, IEEE, ITU-T, IEEE)
• In-depth look at recently released MEF 20 (UNI Type II)
• External Network-Network Interface (E-NNI)
• Mobile Backhaul Implementation Agreement
• Classes of Service
• Network Interface Devices
• Ethernet Service Constructs
• Abstract Test Suites
• Service and Performance OAM
• Download paper

Carrier Ethernet in Depth: Mobile Backhaul

• The Carrier Ethernet value proposition for mobile backhaul
• MEF Specification Work: Mobile Backhaul Implementation Agreement
• Carrier Ethernet technologies and applications for Mobile Backhaul
• Circuit Emulation Services over Ethernet(CESoETH)
• New MEF 18 Certification Program for vendors and its relationship to Mobile Backhaul
• Download paper

Carrier Ethernet in Depth: End-to-end OAM & Network-to-Network Interfaces

• The challenge of End-to-End OAM
• Solutions for fault and performance management to support SLAs
• Network to Network Interfaces (E-NNI)
• MEF Global Interconnect and Wholesale Access initiatives
• Download paper

Carrier Ethernet for Business

• What's driving the growth in Carrier Ethernet?
• Assessing CE in key vertical market
• Enterprise case studies
• Download paper

MPLS in the Access Tutorial

MPLS has proved to be a very flexible and scalable infrastructure for service delivery and service convergence, and is now the protocol of choice in Wide-Area Networks, and increasingly in metropolitan networks. The next challenge is access networks and technologies: does MPLS have a role to play? If so, what, why and how? This tutorial addresses these questions. It begins with a discussion of the various types of access technologies, what functions access nodes serve, and how they fit with the rest of the network. Next it highlights the key benefits that MPLS brings to access networks, and the requirements that "MPLS to the access node" must satisfy. The tutorial then describes the architecture for control and data planes for several different types of access nodes and services, and how the overall MPLS network can scale to 10s of thousands of nodes. Finally, it concludes with a perspective on network and service convergence.

• Santiago Alvarez
• IP/MPLS Forum Ambassador
• Cisco Systems
• Kireeti Kompella
• IP/MPLS Forum Ambassador
• Juniper Networks
• Download paper

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

• Carrier Ethernet Interconnect

The MEF as the defining body for Carrier Ethernet, will present this new Global Interconnect phase impacting Enterprises, regional and global service providers alike.

It brings the cost savings of Carrier Ethernet to Service Provider inter-connection, alignment of services classes, automated management and monitoring, together with simplification and standardization of provisioning, assurance and billing process.

The explosive growth of Carrier Ethernet has driven the Ethernet cost model and the promise of ubiquitous global service level network as the underpinning for the next generation business network.

• Dennis Kruse
• Chairman
• Metro Ethernet Forum
• Download paper

Industry Forum Update

During this session we'll hear status updates and major initiatives from leading industry forums in the MPLS and Ethernet space.

• Andrew Malis
• Director, Packet Network Architecture, Verizon Communications
• Chairman and President, IP/MPLS Forum
• Dennis Kruse
• Chairman
• Metro Ethernet Forum
• Download paper

"Building the Cost Effective WAN" Stories From the Field

Nemertes Research recently interviewed more than a hundred end-user organizations on their WAN plans and experiences for services including use of Ethernet, MPLS, WAN optimization and SIP trunking. During this presentation we'll share our findings and discuss best practices for optimizing your WAN strategy.

• Irwin Lazar
• Vice President Communications Research, Nemertes Research
• Conference Director, Future-Net
• Download paper

Role of MPLS in Evolution to 4G

This presentation examines the role of MPLS technology in the evolution to 4G mobile networks, considering the 3GPP LTE mobile architecture as a case study. Compared to previous generations of mobile architectures, the 4G all-IP architecture, in which both data and voice services are carried over IP, consolidates the mobility-related functions into a smaller number of network elements and extends the hub-and-spoke topologies of the previous generations by allowing for interconnection of base stations and access gateways to support capabilities such as load sharing and optimized handovers. MPLS pseudo wires and VPNs can support network evolution across generations of mobile technologies, allowing mobile operators to leverage their existing investments by supporting transport of traffic from a range of interface types including TDM, ATM, MLPPP/HDLC and Ethernet. As mobile operators begin deploying a new generation of services to be offered over 4G networks, they will require the flexibility to evolve to all-IP transport, over a range of access technologies, with an MPLS infrastructure that provides efficient support for interconnection of 4G network elements. This presentation examines the applicability of MPLS VPNs in 4G architectures, how their use can yield OPEX and performance benefits, scenarios for 3G networks using MPLS VPNs evolving to 4G, and the role of MPLS VPNs in multi-provider mobile infrastructures.

• Douglas Hunt
• Director, IP Division
• Alcatel-Lucent
• Download paper

Next-Generation Backhaul: Preparing Mobile Networks for the 4G Era

The new iPhone makes easy Internet browsing possible just about anywhere in the U.S. Web 2.0 applications go mobile. 3G services are taking off worldwide. And, the move to 4G is already well underway. To meet data traffic growth rates cost-efficiently, rethinking how mobile backhaul is provisioned is imperative.

Without a standard industry definition of 4G, the result is many confusing claims about the capabilities, breakthroughs and potential of so-called 4G technologies. But one thing is for sure: the demand for advanced wireless services puts more pressure on the backhaul network to deliver.

This presentation cuts through the 4G clutter to:

• Clarify the definition of 4G from a technology perspective,
• Propose a realistic timeline for the adoption of a 4G standard,
• Offer backhaul strategies to be implemented now to prepare for the demands 4G services put on the network.

• Bill Kaufmann
• Broadband Product Manager
• Tellabs
• Download paper

Synchronization Options for MPLS-based Backhaul Networks

This presentation will discuss the following :

• A brief introduction to synchronization and its importance.
• The applicability of network synchronization to mobile backhaul networks
• Three methods of achieving synchronization:

1. Adaptive Clock Recovery
2. IEEE 1588v2
3. Synchronous Ethernet

For each of the three methods mentioned above, I will provide some analysis of the applicability of each method, a description of how the method operates and its pros and cons. I will also include some practical considerations that are driving the selection of a particular method by operators.

• Paresh Khatri
• Senior Architect within the IP Division Central Technology Office APAC
• Alcatel-Lucent
• Download paper

Will 4G Mobile Backhaul Break the Bank?

Mobile operators are addressing an exceeding bandwidth demand challenge by planning upgrades to 4G technologies (LTE and WiMAX), as well as by building out additional base station sites. Backhauling voice and data traffic from base station sites constitutes up to 40% of an operator's network costs, and as data usage grows, backhaul capacity must also be increased.

While fiber will always be an operator's first choice, often the costs and delays associated with installing or leasing fiber will be prohibitive. In these cases, radio links using the new 80 GHz spectrum will be the only fast-to-deploy and economical alternative available to the operator.

This session will examine the operator cost implications of backhaul technology choices as 4G technologies deliver their full performance potential. Attendees will understand when to use fiber and 80 GHZ millimeter-wave solutions in order to economically scale their infrastructure as data service grows into the next decade.

• Paul Obsitnik
• Senior Vice President of Business Development
• BridgeWave
• Download paper

Fixed Mobile Convergence: One Problem, Two Solutions

The term "fixed mobile convergence" is responsible for a longstanding buzz in telecommunications circles. Yet implementation and uptake have been slower than anticipated for a variety of reasons, including subscriber preferences and technological implementation.

In evaluating the best approach to FMC, it's useful to consider the evolution of the problem it seeks to solve. Today's subscriber has grown accustomed to a variety of options for making phone calls, including feature-rich office desk phones, traditional home phones, mobile phones accessing a variety of wireless networks, and voice over IP (VoIP) phones that connect calls over the Internet. This environment, while offering unprecedented flexibility to make calls from anywhere, poses new challenges. By enabling subscribers to easily maintain calls while moving between access networks at home and on the go, telcos stand to deliver higher value services, improved coverage, and greater control of the subscriber experience. In the past, PBX vendors developed a variety of approaches to making FMC a reality. Today, FMC actually describes two completely different solutions: a mobile handset-centric approach and a landline-centric approach.

Presentation will explore these options addressing topics including femtocells, wifi, and dual mode handsets; and methods to ensure voice call continuity, seamless network roaming and quality of service over various transport methods and devices.

• Matthew Byrd
• Senior Systems Engineer
• MetaSwitch
• Download paper

ICT's Role in the Sustainability Revolution

This session will talk about the role ICT technologies have to play in addressing issues of climate change and energy efficiency over and above the reduction of direct emissions that we are most familiar with. References to published papers such as SMART 2020 and real life corporate examples will be explored.

• Kevin Moss
• Head of Corporate Social Responsibility
• BT Americas
• Download paper

Accelerating Green IT Across the Distributed Enterprise

Over the last decade network optimization and application acceleration technologies have transformed the corporate landscape, turning once datacenter-bound enterprises into borderless organizations that can deliver secure, real-time access to centralized information anywhere in the world.  Now this same technology is leading a revolution in green IT, reducing the corporate carbon footprint while driving mobile and remote worker connectivity and productivity.  At a time when corporations are demanding that RFPs for IT deployments meet stringent, green-specific requirements, network application optimization technologies have these criteria ready-built into their DNA.
 
This session will offer a primer and real-world scenarios to demonstrate how network visibility, acceleration and security technologies work in support of a converged, green-network environment to reduce server footprints, IT power consumption and corporate travel, accelerating green IT across the distributed enterprise.

• David Cox
• Sr. VP of Operations
• Blue Coat Systems, Inc
• Download paper

SIP Trunking: Security and Interop Issues, Opportunities and Solutions

SIP trunking rapidly reduces costs by leveraging SIP, eliminating redundant network connections and providing PSTN termination in the local area.  Addressing the needs of both service providers and enterprises, this session will provide an overview of the issues faced in enterprise deployments - with a focus on security -- offer real solutions and discuss the opportunities SIP trunking affords every business.

• Steven Johnson
• President
• Ingate
• Download paper

VoWLAN vs. FMC - What's Real, What's Not?

Voice over Wi-Fi has been successfully implemented in enterprises for several years. With today's hype around dual mode and with the Wi-Fi Alliance claiming it has certified more than 100 dual-mode handsets, why not implement FMC? Both established and start-up enterprise-class players are jumping into the FMC fray. But the business model for FMC and some technical issues such as network ownership remain to be worked out. Implementing FMC within the enterprise presents a whole new set of challenges that will need to be addressed. What are they and how can we overcome them? This session will take a look at the complexities of this emerging technology and offer some real-world advice on how to successfully implement VoWLAN as FMC moves toward becoming a reality.

• Ben Guderian
• Vice President, Product Management
• Polycom
• Download paper

Network Data Center: Hub of the New IT-Telecom Convergence

IT and Telecoms are on an evolutionary path to convergence, and the network data center will become the hub of this convergence. Technology has guided both industries from "proprietary" to "open" systems. Now, by leveraging enterprise IT efficiencies in tools and technology, applications can be created at an even faster rate and at lower cost. The network data center provides the ability to deploy telecom applications with data center efficiencies. The convergence of next-generation services within a simplified, unified network environment presents the opportunity to capitalize on the increased efficiencies of new business technologies. Now is the time for telecommunications companies to leverage enterprise IT advances, give their newly emerging competitors a run for their money, and move away from the central office world of "concrete and steel" to the network data center environment of "brass and glass".

• Greg Moulder
• Principal Technologist
• HP Communications & Media Solutions
• Download paper

Convert MPLS Opportunities to Successful Implementation

In this session, we will discuss a unique process that enables peer collaboration around a validated network/service blueprint. A "validated blueprint" based upon the latest MPLS product rules is critical to present a valid solution to your customer. Automating the proposal-creation process with a fully integrated, rules-based system reduces the design rejection rate from one third to close to zero.

Collaborating around the "validated blueprint" creates a common language among all constituents that ensures the proposal is accurate. The result is a smooth, timely and cost-effective implementation for your customer and the creation of a baseline reference point for handling any future changes quickly and efficiently. The ability to collect customer and operational requirements and feedback both pre and post deployment and then modify the validated blueprint as needed, ensures continuous success and significantly improves customer satisfaction and retention.

• Ittai Bareket
• CEO
• Netformx
• Download paper

KEYNOTE ADDRESS:

• The Internet Addressing Crisis Just Went to Defcon 5

We first saw the multihoming problem in 1972 and successfully ignored it for 30 years. But in 2006, it was noticed that multihoming was causing router table size to grow beyond the bounds routers could accommodate and it was clear that Moore's Law would not bail us out. IPv6 makes the problem worse and there wasn't much time to solve it. Since late 90s, the accepted wisdom was that the solution to the problem was the so-called "loc/id split." The semantics of the IP address was overloaded, being used both for identity and location, we never separated them. Several solutions have been proposed based on the loc/id concept. A few months ago, it was found that no solution based on loc/id split will scale. Back to square 1; time is shorter. This presentation will consider why there is a problem, that loc/id split is post-IPng trauma, and that in addition to loc/id solutions not scaling, any protocol that routes on the interface address won't scale either, e.g. IP.

• John Day
• Boston University
• Download paper

Lessons From Down Under: Telstra's Wireline Transformation

Content...transport...distribution: in Australia, customers can get it all from one service provider on a next-generation network. In this case study, learn how Telstra transforms its wireline network to an IP/MPLS environment while still supporting customers short-term requirements for ATM and Frame Relay services. Walk through the strategic three-phase plan Telstra follows to transition from two separate networks (switched digital for ATM/FR/FR-ATM and a routed digital network/MPLS for IP services) to Telstra Next IP™, a single MPLS network. Learn how multiservice edge routers and professional services make the difference in seamlessly migrating traffic to the new network. The result: A network that provides 5-nines reliability, enhanced security and an IP/MPLS core scalable up to 92Tbps per node. Customer demand for IP and data services is already growing, driven by strong demand for access services.

• Tim Dorion
• Director of Product Management
• Tellabs
• Download paper

Disruption: Emerging Technologies and Business Models

• Monique Morrow
• Download paper

Building Carrier Ethernet

• Luyuan Fang
• Download paper

Leveraging Provider Ethernet Standards

Recently, there has been much activity in Ethernet Bridging standards, and in particular: Provider Backbone Bridges (PBB), Provider Backbone Bridges - Traffic Engineering (PBB-TE), and Shortest Path Bridging (SPB), which provide new data plane and control plane capabilities for carriers. These technologies are the result of evolving Ethernet technology to support more diverse connectivity. We will show how architectures based on existing link state technologies (e.g. IS-IS) are finding an application to provide a control plane for Ethernet can better utilize network resources while providing carrier grade capabilities. Work ongoing in Provider Link State Bridging (PLSB), as a proposal to IEEE 802.1aq Shortest Path Bridging (SPB), is addressing these new capabilities both in enterprise and carrier environments. This presentation will show how key attributes of the Ethernet data plane distinguish the result from that achievable with other technologies. The audience will learn how these technologies seamlessly upgrade the Ethernet services model by maintaining backwards compatibility with existing Ethernet technology and capabilities and provide new levels of flexibility, efficiency and scalability. PBB and PBB-TE redefine Ethernet connection flexibility. SPB leverages IS-IS to simplify and streamline the connectivity of PBB and create per Backbone Edge Bridge (BEB) shortest path trees for the optimal delivery of the entire MEF service set (E-Line, E-LAN, and E-Tree). The proposed control plane leverages link state to replace traditional learning of Ethernet addresses in the PBB network. This enables complete and efficient multicast and unicast connectivity. We will discuss aspects such as scalability, OAM capability and stability and loop mitigation techniques.

• David Allan
• Distinguished Member of Technical Staff
• Nortel
• Download paper

Ethernet Futures and Customer Impact

What does Ethernet emergence mean for customers". During this session we'll hear AT&T views on Ethernet adoption, where Ethernet makes sense and where it doesn't, and how AT&T sees the Ethernet market developing.

• Tom Siracusa
• AT&T
• Download paper

IPv6 Transition Plan

TBD

• John Curran
• Chairman
• ARIN
• Download paper

IPv6 Security

Many international organizations already have IPv6 networks, the U.S. Federal organizations are working on their transitions to IPv6 and others are contemplating what IPv6 means to them. However, many organizations already have IPv6 running on their networks and they don''''t even realize it. Many computer operating systems now default to running both IPv4 and IPv6 and it could cause security vulnerabilities if one is not prepared. IPv6 security vulnerabilities currently exist and as the popularity of the IPv6 protocol increases so do the number of threats. This talk surveys the threats against IPv6 networks and provides solutions on how to mitigate those. It covers the issues and the current practices for securing an IPv6 network. It covers many of the subjects covered the my book of the same title.

• Scott Hogg
• Director of Advanced Technology Services
• GTRI
• Download paper

Very Large Scale Integration Reveals Cross-Domain Challenges

Engineering and implementing converged networks in hyper-growth markets test the limits of traditional architectures, service quality management, and transport capacity. Integration of very large scale, multi-service platforms and technologies, either from the perspective of subscriber growth (reaching one million new subscribers per month) or traffic growth (Internet), has identified scalability and reliability challenges and approaches that are applicable to the transition to next-generation services around the globe. Telcordia will illustrate these challenges through case studies, and present lessons learned from recent integration projects. The audience will identify the integration hurdles of convergence, how VoIP, IMS, Pre/Post-Paid, Fixed Mobile Convergence (WiFi, Femto) must all come together to provide a seamless set of services over the MPLS/VPLS/Ethernet backbone.

• Venky Baspur
• Executive Director - Network Engineering & Integra
• Telcordia
• Download paper

Deploying NGN MPLS Infrastructures

The drive for greater broadband reach and capacity necessitates migrating toward the converged, next-generation network (NGN)--otherwise, the economics of further deployment cannot be justified. Making the MPLS / NGN a reality involves the deployment of infrastructure such as packet-optical elements, carrier Ethernet switch routers, and broadband access elements. It also means achieving operational efficiency (OPEX), optimizing central office real estate, offering uniform and new services, and future-proofing the IP infrastructure. Doing this in a cost-effective manner requires leveraging all NGN building blocks for maximum return. This presentation discusses best practices and lessons learned to date from deploying IP/MPLS NGNs around the world in various scenarios. The speaker will discuss key new revenue engines in the form of multiplay services bundles enabled by the NGN, focusing on case studies and what they can point to regarding future deployment planning.

• Laura Howard
• Chief Marketing Officer
• ECI Telecom
• Download paper

Application-Assured Business VPN Services

Enterprises have little or no visibility of their business applications and their performance behavior over the wide area network. Service providers need to take a strategic approach to deliver WAN optimization through Application-Assured business VPN services to small, medium and large Enterprises. Currently, service providers have to rely on costly standalone optimization appliances as a 'quick fix'. This session will discuss an integrated network approach to deliver Application-Assured VPN Services that aligns with the Enterprise's application performance goals.

• Manish Gulyani
• Director, Business Services Strategy & Marketing
• Alcatel-Lucent
• Download paper

A New Strategy for Fiber-To-The-X

In times of fierce price competition, higher upstream demands and regulatory pressure for local loop unbundling, carriers are challenged to consolidate their metro networks and re-think their access strategies. Converged access and backhaul for residential, business and carrier wholesale services, fewer active components in the access network, the elimination of local exchanges and the reduction of power and space consumption are critical objectives to secure long term profitable service delivery.

• Jim Theodoras
• Director of Technical Marketing
• ADVA Optical Networking
• Download paper

PBB-VPLS: The Separation of Service and Infrastructure

IEEE PBB and IETF VPLS, two technologies that initially appeared to be competing, mutually exclusive solutions for delivering E-LAN VPNs it turns out co-exist quite nicely together. In fact, combining both technologies in a network is stronger than either one alone. The benefits of MAC scaling have been well touted. As successful VPLS deployments added more and more services, PBB brought the ability to aggregate and 'hide' increasing number of customer MAC addresses thus scaling the forwarding plane. As service providers and vendors gained experience with the combination, many are finding other less obvious benefits more compelling. This presentation focuses on these additional benefits such as; dramatically reducing the number of VPLS pseudowires, simplifying service provisioning, and enabling stronger multicast performance.

• Mike Loomis
• Director of Business Development
• Alcatel-Lucent IP Division
• Download paper

Delivering Next-Gen Visual Communications Services

Real-time visual communication technologies such as HD video conferencing, telepresence and video-enabled unified communications are emerging as significant market opportunities for service providers. However, existing models for video infrastructure were designed for limited enterprise deployments and do not have the capacity or scalability to support broad deployments of these bandwidth and processing-intensive applications. This session will explore the technical challenges in delivering real-time visual communication services with scale and the requirements for a new class of infrastructure solutions that can be effectively managed in a carrier network environment and that can deliver carrier-class reliability.

• Stefan Karapetkov
• Emerging Technologies Director
• Polycom
• Download paper

Applying Provider Ethernet to Simplify Packet Transport Operations

The concepts of packet transport and packet optical integration have been bouncing around the industry for some time now. Ethernet transport technologies (including PBB-TE and G.8032) are now largely standardized and readily available to help address this challenge. However, new technologies may introduce new operational complexities to a service provider's Operations paradigm if not carefully implemented.

This talk explores some likely deployment scenarios for both packet transport and optical integration and the management implications for how networks will be built and operated. In particular, it covers aspects with respect to scaling, maintaining stability, and scenarios for seamlessly managing network growth. As such, it suggests where packet technology will have dependencies on incumbent technologies and where choices will be comparatively open. Finally, it explores key aspects of MPLS and Ethernet in the transport role, including the current levels of standardization, and draws appropriate conclusions to assist network planners, architects, and engineers, to design packet transport networks which minimize OPEX through simplified operations.

• David Allan
• Distinguished Member of Technical Staff
• Nortel
• Download paper

MPLS-VPN Fast Convergence in Much Less Than a Second

It is common to characterize any MPLS-VPN BGP-related routing convergence as hopelessly slow due to the linear relationship between the number of impacted prefixes and the number of convergence operation (bestpath, RIB and FIB update, transmission or reception of withdraw/update).
 
The objective of this presentation is to demonstrate that this belief is wrong for any failures occurring within the MPLS-VPN network of a service provider with redundantly-connected peers. This covers the vast majority (if not all) of deployment models involving MPLS-VPN convergence requirements.
 
Thanks to BGP Prefix Independent Convergence (BGP PIC), an alternative path to the existing BGP next-hop is enabled at IGP convergence time (modify) in the core scenario, while in the edge scenario, the deletion of the IGP path to a BGP next-hop triggers an immediate and prefix-independent rerouting of the dependent BGP destinations via an alternate BGP next-hop.
 
MPLS VPN Fast Convergence bring significant scaling and robustness gains to router architecture and foundation for triple play services.

• Bertrand Duvivier
• MPLS-VPN & RSVP Product Manager
• Cisco
• Download paper

Making the Migration: Enterprise Justification for the use of MPLS/VPLS/Ethernet

Over the past 20 years, we have seen enterprises deploy data networks leveraging private transport (Private Line) and virtually private packet (FR/ATM) WANs that have become legacy networks. Now that MPLS IP VPNs have become the new standard for enterprise WANs, Ted Wagner, Director of Product Management, Datat Services at Level 3 Communications, will discuss best practices for migrating away from legacy technology networks and onto more advanced MPLS VPN services including VPLS and EVPL.

• Ted Wagner
• Director of Product Management, Data Services
• Level 3 Communications, LLC
• Download paper

At Ease with Ethernet-Having Confidence when discussing Ethernet Solutions

Understanding the technology, benefits, and planning processes required for Ethernet solutions.

Whether you are considering an Ethernet solution for your business or presenting an Ethernet solution to your client, unless you have previously been involved in an implementation there is a good chance you might forget to ask certain questions which are critical to a successful installation and implementation.

• Heather Seibert
• Vice President of Operations
• American Telesis
• Download paper

End-to-End MPLS WAN Management Visibility

With the emergence of MPLS VPNs as increasingly significant components of enterprise WANs, enterprises have been confronted with a number of challenges .in managing networks where a significant portion of not only their connectivity, but their IP routing has been outsourced.
 
Layer 3 MPLS VPNs mean that Service Providers are not just offering "dumb pipes", but a sophisticated Layer 3 service where they are managing the enterprise's WAN routing, usually using the complex and verbose Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). This MPLS VPN routing "cloud" blocks enterprise IT's end to end network management visibility, leaving only "islands" of visible network connectivity. This disjointed view of the network means that its difficult to analyze the dynamic IP routing relationship between internal networks and the WAN, to understand whether the MPLS WAN service is working or not, and ultimately, to manage the network as a component of end to end application delivery. Some organizations with sensitive information also may have needs to ensure that the privacy of their VPN which runs over a shared Service Provider network along with many other customers' VPNs, is not inadvertently being compromised through misconfigurations.

A new approach to overcoming this visibility barrier now provides enterprises with a holistic view of their network topology including MPLS WAN clouds, the ability to monitor their network for end to end routing reachability and anomalies that may indicate a loss of WAN service privacy, and site to site traffic flow analysis. This session will address:

• The challenges of MPLS VPN WANs for enterprise network management and application delivery:
• A fundamental difference in WAN service--from L2 links to L3 and routing
• Why MPLS VPNs block visibility
• What the loss of visibility means for enterprise network managers
• Breaking the MPLS WAN visibility barrier:
• A new approach for achieving end to end network topology visibility across MPLS WAN
• The underlying technology
• GP and BGP based topology realization
• Utilizing topology to correlate traffic flows
• A time-moveable model to understand the network's past, present and future
• Visibility defined:
• Path tracing from site to site across MPLS WAN clouds
• Site to site reachability monitoring--Layer 3 understanding of service availability
• MPLS WAN provider redundancy monitoring--who's really providing the service?
• Site to site traffic analysis
• Privacy monitoring and analysis

Conclusion--This is way better than starting back at zero.

• Alex Henthorn-Iwane
• Vice-President of Product Marketing
• Packet Design
• Download paper

Seamlessly Combining Multiple MPLS WANs into One

Enterprises today rely on their MPLS WAN to deliver business critical applications to their distributed workforce. Enterprises need to address the risks surrounding the availability of the underlying network infrastructure to ensure continuous communication capacities across the distributed branches and datacenters. This is done typically with a dual connection to two physically distinct MPLS networks at each site.

Those redundant networks are usually deployed in a manner where the secondary line is only used when a failure of the primary network is detected. As a result, in normal situations, the capacity of the second (redundant) network is wasted. In addition, the business continuity is not fully ensured: it takes too long to switch from one network to another, impacting the running business critical applications. Ipanema's Smart Path Selection provides a unique answer to Enterprises that want to achieve full business communication continuity through multiple redundant MPLS WANs while at the same time optimize their network costs and application performance guarantees.

Smart Path Selection automatically and dynamically selects the best network path for each session in order to maximize application performance, security and network usage. Tightly integrated with other Ipanema functions including Visibility, Optimization and Acceleration, Smart Path Selection enables the full benefits of such technologies over the redundant networks. Smart Path Selection benefits from Ipanema's Autonomic Networking System which automates the vast majority of operational tasks associated with advanced networking functions.

With Ipanema's Smart Path Selection, for the first time it is possible to seamlessly combine multiple physical MPLS WANs into one unified logical network providing excellent application availability and performance without having to struggle with management complexity. Enterprises can now benefit from new, innovative options to guarantee the performance of their critical application and to ensure business continuity.

• Peter Schmidt
• US Technical Director
• Ipanema Technologies
• Download paper

Why use a Carrier Neutral Colocation Facility?

Carrier Neutral Colocation facilities provide space and power and interconnection to multiple service providers. Using Carrier Neutral Colocation facilities can save you money; give you more choice of providers and result in better performance for your applications. These facilities are the platform for the global distribution of existing and future network services, applications and digital media. Learn more at this session.

• Rose Klimovich
• VP
• Telx
• Download paper

Enterprise Virtualization

As both users and applications increasingly rely on connectivity and collaboration to achieve new levels of functionality and productivity with emerging SOA and Web 2.0 architectural concepts, great opportunities lie ahead for enterprise architects.
 
A holistic enterprise architecture that fully exploits the strength of the application and the intelligent infrastructure is required to fully realize the potential of a collaborative environment, as well as to avoid potential pitfalls. While today's server virtualization technologies are poised to greatly improve your infrastructure in the near-term, network virtualization of bandwidth and connectivity has played a critical role as the foundation of enterprise virtualization.

This presentation will provide an overview of emerging network architectural enterprise concepts; provide a high level view of functionality bottlenecks and potential security threats. It will also provide an introduction into emerging high level architectural concepts that exploit the intelligence of the application layer combined with the instant detection and response capabilities built into the infrastructure.

• Amr Ahmed
• Advisory Services, Senior Manager
• Ernst and Young
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Upgrade Your Network for Voice and UC

The current wave of UC and converged communications innovation is taking place in the SMB/SME segment, a technology/innovation-oriented segment that is looking for new, effective ways of optimizing their voice, data and video communications. Yet, these businesses face a major challenge - In order to effectively deploy multiple real-time applications and services, they have to solve the SMB/SME WAN edge bottleneck, and figure out a way to optimize last mile access to the IP network. In this session, U4EA VP of Products and Marketing Jim Greenway will discuss how to solve the WAN issue and subsequent upgrade to accommodate voice and data. The session will cover QoS, security and bandwidth needs at the WAN, as well as how to serve mobile workers through integrated wireless premise solutions. Finally, U4EA will discuss some of the options on the market today for ensuring that distributed voice and data applications sharing a network infrastructure all perform adequately in converged networks.

• Jim Greenway
• Worldwide Marketing and Product Expansion
• U4EA Technologies
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