Metro Ethernet Ring at MCS

Abstract

Ethernet has been the indisputable technology of choice for local area networks (LANs) for more than 30 years. Its attractiveness is due to its flexibility, plug and play features and low cost. Despite its popularity it is still restricted to local area networks, and is not ready to become a carrier grade technology for wide areas. Metro Ethernet Network (MEN) is a switched high bandwidth layer-2 technology that connects or bridges geologically segregated LANs. Metro Ethernet Network is also capable of managing broadband applications of voice, video and data services. This unification of services and their convergence to a single network reduces the equipment cost, eases administrative work, a single line requirement to access all services and most importantly provides efficient utilization of bandwidth. This capability of unifying services and their convergence to a single network is a concept of Next Generation Network (NGN). Military College of Signals (MCS) decided to initiate work on Metro Ethernet Networks to enable the advantage of productivity-enhancing IP communication such as IP video calling, video conferencing, instant messaging, streaming and broadcast video in its departments that are difficult to implement on TDM network of PASCOM. It was also decided to give emphasis on the integration of Metro Ethernet Network with PASCOM to remain connect with PASCOM users. To connect all departments we utilized optical fiber which covers the departments in the form of rings, so called Metro Ethernet Ring. Accepting this challenge of installing a Metro Ethernet Network in our college we in a group of three students started work on this project to providing IP video calling facility over EE and CS Department and its LABs and integration of this network with PASCOM. Also we have to implement security features over this network to prevent any kind of foreign intrusion.